Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some men, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give men a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
TRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of TRT and HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
For men, getting older comes with its perks, like living life on their own terms and not having to "sweat the small stuff" day in and day out. At the same time, there are aspects of aging that men dread, like hormonal changes. Yes, you read that right – men, not just women, go through hormonal changes as they age. For men, the biggest change involves a drop in testosterone.
Lower levels of testosterone can wreak havoc on a male's mind and body and when left untreated, can result in symptoms like:
Those symptoms are concerning, but with testosterone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine, many males improve their quality of life with age. The good news is that TRT and anti-aging meds aren't only reserved for "old guys." In fact, there's no magic age at which men should start thinking about hormone replacement therapy. Everyone's body is different, so if you're experiencing the above conditions in your mid-30s, TRT could be a viable solution when you consult with a doctor.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.
When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.
TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.
Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.
Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.
When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.
For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.
When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.
If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.
For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.
Are you used to blasting through a productive day and accomplishing all your daily goals? Do you find yourself losing muscle mass and the craving to be intimate with your partner? Does your partner complain about how irritable you have become? If you're not usually a curmudgeon, your body could be giving you a sign. It could be time to speak with a doctor about TRT and anti-aging medicine for men in Lower East Side, NY.
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might be battling against low testosterone:
One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.
The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.
Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.
Hair Loss
Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?
Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.
Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Lower East Side, NY, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.
Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.
Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Lower East Side, NY, is now available to address hair loss for good.
While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.
Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.
If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.
If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.
A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.
The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.
TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.
You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.
A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.
Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.
Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.
Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.
Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.
Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy for men are numerous. TRT not only grants relief from low-T symptoms but can help give protection against age-related diseases. Additionally, doctors now recognize male testosterone as an important role in alleviating depression.
Some of the most exciting benefits of TRT can include:
Because men do not go through a specific period of hormonal changes like women do (called menopause), many doctors refer to "male menopause" as androgen decline. This is just another term for low testosterone, but like female menopause, the symptoms can be serious and affect your quality of life.
The best way to fight back against male menopause is with male HRT treatment from Global Life Rejuvenation. We provide the following HRT treatments for men:
Our treatment options are personalized for your body and are available as creams, gels, injectables, and implantable pellets. To find out if testosterone replacement therapy is safe for you, contact Global Life Rejuvenation today to schedule your comprehensive testing and anti-aging treatment consultation.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Benefits of Sermorelin include:
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.
Some of those benefits include:
Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.
Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
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Photo by Bob KrasnerIt might as well have been 1978 at the Mercury Lounge on Monday night as the Pretty Babies rocked out with a set of Blondie tunes at a fundraiser for Holly DeRito’s Waggytail Rescue organization.Fronted by the brilliant chameleon Tammy Faye Starlite, the band played the hits to a very appreciative crowd for a good cause. Starlite, who has been known to channel the voices of Nico, Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger was perfect in the Debbie Harry role on everything from “One Way o...
Photo by Bob Krasner
It might as well have been 1978 at the Mercury Lounge on Monday night as the Pretty Babies rocked out with a set of Blondie tunes at a fundraiser for Holly DeRito’s Waggytail Rescue organization.
Fronted by the brilliant chameleon Tammy Faye Starlite, the band played the hits to a very appreciative crowd for a good cause. Starlite, who has been known to channel the voices of Nico, Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger was perfect in the Debbie Harry role on everything from “One Way or Another” to “Heart of Glass” and “Rip Her to Shreds” — the latter, snarled as affectionately as possible to DeRito, was preceded by Starlite’s rant about the evening’s organizer that involved some descriptive language that won’t be reprinted here.
The band, which included original Blondie member Jimmy Destri on keyboards for a couple of tunes, was doing their third benefit for Waggytail.
“It’s a great organization,” Starlite said after. “She does things for animals that nobody else would do.” DeRito reported that the night brought in about $1,000, which would be used for medical expenses for some of the 66 animals (64 dogs, 2 cats) recently rescued from Tijuana.
Opening for Pretty Babies was a solo set by Rob Paravonian followed by Tracy City, a female foursome led by East Village resident Katrina Del Mar. Their energetic punk inspired rock won over many new fans including DeRito, who called their set “freaking amazing!”
Del Mar noted later that “Waggytail is a wonderful organization and we were thrilled to join in. I know lots of people who have used their services.” She went on to rave about Pretty Babies, whose bass player is also the Tracy City guitarist.
“They were fantastic – so much energy! Tammy Faye is a genius,” Del Mar said. “The audience was going nuts — just a joyous feeling in the room.”
Waggytail Rescue is planning more benefits in the future as well as adoption events, so stay tuned. In the meantime, DeRito — who has lived in the Lower East Side for the past 30 years — is going to continue to enjoy her career.
“I’ve been doing this for 20 years and it’s still magical,” she muses. “I can’t go out the door without seeing a dog that we’ve rescued and it just makes me smile.”
Follow Waggytail on Instagram at @waggytailrescue and online at waggytailrescue.org.
Band info: Tammy Faye Starlite: facebook.com/tammyfayestarlite and @tammyfayestarlite. Tracy City: tracycityband.xyz and @tracycityband. Rob Paravonian: robprocks.com.
Hear more about the Lower East Side's fascinating history in season 1, episode 1 of "Lost Cultures: Living Legacies," a new podcast from Travel + Leisure.New York City has long been known as a melting pot of cultures. Home to the world's largest Chinatown, and arguably the best Little Italy this side o...
Hear more about the Lower East Side's fascinating history in season 1, episode 1 of "Lost Cultures: Living Legacies," a new podcast from Travel + Leisure.
New York City has long been known as a melting pot of cultures. Home to the world's largest Chinatown, and arguably the best Little Italy this side of the Atlantic, it’s a city that celebrates diversity unlike any other. But there’s one neighborhood, in particular, that’s gone through so many cultural evolutions, it’s hard to keep track of where one ends and another begins: the Lower East Side.
"The...simple overview is that it's [going to] go from German to Eastern European, Mediterranean, and now, we have Chinatown, and a lot of Spanish-speaking communities," says Dolan Cochran, the education coordinator for public programs and content at the Tenement Museum, located on the Lower East Side. "But in reality, these communities are much more intermixed than we might imagine. It's not like turning on and off a light, where the community goes from speaking German to speaking Yiddish. It's a long period of the older population moving out, while a new population moves in."
Dolan adds that even when "one population...supplants the other, you'll see elements of the older community that remains." That’s often seen in its businesses, churches, and meeting places. And it’s a way of life that actor Luis Guzmán says, just simply works.
"Puerto Rican, Black, Jamaican, Dominican, Mexican, Polish, Ukrainian, Jewish, Hasidic, Chinese, Korean — it was just an incredible mix of all these different cultures and food. And to a certain degree, it still is," he says. "We all went to school together. We played sports together. We used to get into trouble together...You're growing up as teenagers, and then you start dating and stuff like that, and that takes on a whole different perspective. But it was just life every day."
Guzmán pauses, adding, "Man, I was so fortunate; we were so fortunate to have that with each other."
Ready to hear more about the Lower East Side’s history? Listen to Cochran, Guzmán, and host Alisha Prakash, T+L's associate editorial director, dive deep into the neighborhood in episode one of Lost Cultures: Living Legacies, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and everywhere podcasts are available.
Every Wednesday on the Lost Cultures: Living Legacies podcast, Prakash explores a unique culture around the world, and shares how you can learn more about the community on your travels, too.
Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.
The East Village and Lower East Side have largely avoided the widespread glossification seen in other parts of Downtown Manhattan—though that’s not to say that these two lively neighborhoods haven’t rapidly evolved in the 21st century. Still, they retain many vestiges of their past as bastions of bohemianism and creativity, including the characteristic grit and beatnik energy that ranks them among the most iconic districts in NYC. Here, HAP’s guide to the East Village (EV) and Lower East Side (LES).Wher...
The East Village and Lower East Side have largely avoided the widespread glossification seen in other parts of Downtown Manhattan—though that’s not to say that these two lively neighborhoods haven’t rapidly evolved in the 21st century. Still, they retain many vestiges of their past as bastions of bohemianism and creativity, including the characteristic grit and beatnik energy that ranks them among the most iconic districts in NYC. Here, HAP’s guide to the East Village (EV) and Lower East Side (LES).
Where to Stay:
With the opening of Nine Orchard, there’s officially no longer a dearth of design-centric hotels below Delancey. Housed inside the historic 100-year-old Jarmulowsky bank building are 116 swanky rooms styled in residential-style luxury. Delectable drama is delivered at full tilt in the lobby, where the Swan Room buzzes beneath a glorious vaulted ceiling.
This sleek LES boutique is a handsome homage to the neighborhood’s industrial origins. The lobby scores major cozy points with its exposed brick walls, low-slung leather couches, and a wood-burning fireplace, while white walls and four-poster beds keep the guest rooms bright and airy. Signature restaurant Dirty French remains one of the most coveted dinner reservations in the hood.
Inspired by the vibrant culture of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the Moxy LES is a new boutique stay that represents the area’s history like no other. The catwalk entrance leading to the eclectic lobby and guest rooms draws from the area’s entertainment hub past, equipping playful wallpapers and unseemly acrobatic figurines hanging from chandeliers. Grab a bite to eat at swanky in-house Japanese restaurant, Sake No Hana, then spend the night partying at the hotel’s sleek underground nightclub, Loosie’s.
Where to Eat:
The sister restaurant to Contra (also worth checking out), Wildair offers a spectacular wine selection and creative seasonal dishes that are perfect for sharing. Menu highlights include beef tartare with smoked cheddar and chestnut, fried squid served with inky aioli, and romaine and pistachio salad.
Legendary restaurant Veselka in Little Ukraine has been serving homestyle Eastern European fare for over 60 years. Beyond old-country classics like borscht, stuffed cabbage, and pierogies, you can score an incredible Angus beef burger.
This Dimes Square dinner joint is a paean to Iberian cuisine, with a sharp spotlight on seafood delights like crackly-fried shrimp heads (eat them whole!), briny Manilla clams in Vinho Verde, and breaded skate wing mingle. The Piri-Piri chicken and lamb burger are also stellar choices. All bites pair perfectly with natty wines and expertly-shaken martinis.
Tucked off Thompkins Square Park, this perenially popular restaurant cooks up some of the best Vietnamese in NYC. The ph? is an insanely flavorful concoction of gingery-garlicky bone broth base, with pickled garlic and bone marrow punching it up an extra notch. Small plates like the crunchy pig ear papaya salad and pork summer rolls with crunchy fried onions are just as divine.
Where to Drink:
Many credit Death & Co. for igniting America’s craft cocktail revolution, and though the mixology craze may have begun over a decade ago, the popularity of this East Village institution hasn’t wavered. There are dozens of libations to choose from (go for the Rita Hayworth, made with pineapple-infused tequila) plus excellent small dishes like tuna tartare and rib-sticking truffle mac and cheese.
Skin Contact on Orchard Street is a rare wine bar that satisfies (sans pretension) wine snobs and amateur oenophiles alike. The candle-lit hideaway prices most glasses at under $15—a refreshingly approachable price for top-quality juice.
A basement bar beneath a Rivington Street sushi joint might make you think “speakeasy,” but it’s anything but. Lullaby is essentially a low-key discotheque dressed up as a neighborhood watering hole, fueled by cocktails that are just whimsical enough (try the frozen Dole Whip) and music you’ll want to Shazam at every other track.
Where to Visit:
St Marks Place—8th St between Third Ave and Ave A—is one of Manhattan’s most culture-packed stretches of pavement and arguably the most famous in the East Village. This relatively short street bustles day and night with quirky boutiques and street vendors, ethnic eateries and grungy bars, and so much more. Food highlights include a Moroccan brunch at Cafe Mogador, sushi-making classes at Osaka, and Crif Dogs’ legendary hot dogs. End your night with karaoke at Sing Sing.
Though Essex Market has existed since the 19th century, it moved to a shiny new complex across Delancey Street that also has a movie theater and access to an adjoining subterranean food hall called The Market Line. Whether you’re searching for hand-made pasta, organic produce, or fresh-caught seafood, Essex Market has it all. Don’t pass up a gluttonous greasy spoon brunch at Shopsin’s, or a flavor-packed North Indian feast at Dhamaka.
This immersive living museum sits inside several resorted Orchard Street tenement apartments, transporting visitors to the 19th and 20th centuries when waves of immigrants settled in the LES. Guides in period costumes narrate different tours from a first-person perspective, opening a portal to the struggles and achievements experienced by newcomers to America.
Rising like a stack of metal blocks on the Bowery, the New Museum (designed by Tokyo architecture firm Sejima + Nishizawa/SANAA) is NYC’s only dedicated contemporary art museum. Since it’s a non-collecting institution, the museum collaborates directly with artists to produce new exhibitions and facilitate dialogue directly with audiences.
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Workers at the region’s largest Trader Joe’s are about to cast ballots that could make it the company’s first unionized store in New York.
Beginning Wednesday, nearly 200 workers from Trader Joe’s Essex Crossing, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, will cast ballots to decide whether to join Trader Joe’s United, an independent union that has successfully organized locations in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Kentucky.
“Crew members” at the Grand Street store, which opened in July 2019, claim the company — despite its reputation for being-worker friendly — has been slashing benefits, keeping wages stagnant amid rising inflation, and ignoring worker concerns around COVID safety.
The union effort at the Grand Street location began nearly two years ago when the company began rolling back its pandemic safety efforts: lifting mask mandates for customers and getting rid of plastic barriers “overnight,” workers there said.
“It was just a scary time when everybody was fearful not only for their job, but for their health,” said Diego Ramirez, 24, a crew member at Essex Crossing since its opening who sits on the union’s organizing committee.
Trader Joe’s United is calling on the company to increase wages to $30 an hour from a current starting point of about $18, and also to increase health care access, improve health and safety measures, and make guaranteed contributions to employees’ retirement plans. The company has a cult following for its reputation as a cheerful “neighborhood grocery store,” albeit one owned by one of the wealthiest families in the world.
A spokesperson for Trader Joe’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the unionization vote.
Company spokesperson Nakia Rohde said in a statement to Hell Gate last month that crew members “get to decide if they want to be a part of this UFCW-backed effort,” referring to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
UFCW Local 1500 was behind an effort last year to organize workers at a different location, the Trader Joe’s wine store near Union Square, which abruptly closed amid the campaign. The company denied at the time that the closure was related to the union effort.
UFCW is not involved in the Essex Crossing petition by the independent union, but issued a statement in solidarity: “The UFCW proudly supports all workers, including those at Trader Joe’s across the country, who are standing up to fight for each other and build a better life at work by unionizing.”
Additionally, workers at a Williamsburg, Brooklyn, store voted 94-66 last year against joining Trader Joe’s United, the union organizing the Essex Crossing vote.
Trader Joe’s was once renowned for generous employee benefits that included corporate contributions of as much as 15% of wages to employee benefit plans. But the reality more recently has been bleaker, and workers lost a hazard-pay bump of as much as $4 an hour that had been put in place during COVID lockdown.
When the company rolled back hazard pay in May 2021, Ramirez recalled, his coworkers were “really struggling to pay their bills and to support their families, and were also fearful of their health at the same time.”
It was around that same time that the company also lifted its mask mandates for customers, and workers began quietly discussing unionizing efforts among themselves.
The workers were aided in their efforts by the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), a volunteer-powered project of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Volunteers host free webinars workers can join to learn how to organize their workplaces, get in touch with unions organizing in their industries, and provide support during organizing and union election campaigns.
Gabriel Medrano, 29, joined Trader Joe’s as a “crew member” six and a half years ago and transferred to the Essex Crossing location when it opened in 2019.
Medrano said he first reached out to an EWOC volunteer two years ago. That volunteer then connected him with an organizer of the union that would eventually become Trader Joe’s United.
“I really care about Trader Joe’s. I got this job right out of college,” he said. “And I like the people I work with too much, and thought about all of my coworkers and how we deserve better, so I decided I had to get into it.”
The union filed a petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board last month, with about 65% of workers signing union cards indicating they support being represented by the union.
Trader Joe’s has been in the headlines for alleged mistreatment of its workers in New York: In 2016, a former employee at its Upper West Side location filed a formal complaint with the NLRB after he was fired, allegedly for not smiling enough; the company denied the worker’s claims at the time. Last year, the company fired a union organizer at the same Williamsburg store that eventually voted against the union; the worker submitted a complaint to the NLRB, which dismissed her charge in January.
The NLRB is still considering unfair labor practice charges related to the Union Square wine shop closure, a person familiar with the matter said.
Dozens of workers and supporters gathered outside the Grand Street store on Tuesday morning to show support ahead of the vote. The group included baristas with Starbucks Workers United and workers from Laborer’s Local 79, Amazon Labor Union, REI Union Soho and Teamsters Local 804 — the local union representing UPS workers who are in the midst of nationwide contract talks ahead of a potential strike this summer.
As Ramirez and others leafleted outside the store’s entrance, one customer stopped to ask them what the commotion was about. “We’re having a rally for our union efforts,” Ramirez said.
“Oh! All right!” the elderly woman cheered, raising her fist.
Construction is nearing completion on 355 Grand Street, a six-story residential building on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Designed by S M Tam Architect and developed by ...
Construction is nearing completion on 355 Grand Street, a six-story residential building on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Designed by S M Tam Architect and developed by Interboro Realty Management, which purchased the property for $4 million in 2015, the structure will yield an undisclosed number of units and 2,282 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Grand Building Contracting Inc. is the general contractor for the project, which is located on the southwest corner of Grand and Essex Streets.
Recent photos show the final look of the façade since the scaffolding and black netting were dismantled. The envelope is composed of a mix of white and black metal paneling surrounding a grid of large rectangular windows. The northeast corner features a round column running the height of the building, and there are stacks of balconies on both the Grand and Essex Street elevations. Two sections on the upper levels are lined with glass railings for rooftop terraces.
Sidewalk fencing surrounds the property, but should be removed in the coming months as work wraps up on the ground floor.
355 Grand Street. Photo by Michael Young
Here is a screenshot of 355 Grand Street via Google Maps dating back to August 2021 when the façade was still covered.
355 Grand Street via Google Maps
It was previously reported that the residential component would include both a duplex and triplex unit, each spanning 4,653 square feet. The nearest subways are the F, M, J, and Z trains at the Delancey Street-Essex Street station to the north underneath the Essex Crossing master plan.
YIMBY predicts 355 Grand Street will finally reach completion sometime in early 2023.
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At number 21 on YIMBY’s year-end countdown of the tallest projects underway in the city is Gotham Point’s north tower, a 57-story residential skyscraper at 1-15 57th Avenue in Hunters Point South, Queens. Designed by Handel Architects and developed by Gotham Organization and Riseboro Community Partnership, the 559-foot-tall structure will yield 692 rental units and is also known as Parcel F in a two-tower master plan alongside the 33-story, 443-foot-tall Parcel G. The property is bound by Center Boulevard to the north, 56th Avenue to the east, and 57th Avenue to the west.
Finishing touches have progressed since our last update in August when the construction elevator had recently been dismantled from the southwestern corner, leaving a gap in the façade. This has since been filled in, and work is now nearing completion on the multi-story podium. Only one small section of scaffolding remains on these lower floors, and the sidewalk fencing should be removed in the coming months as construction finishes up. Belden Tristate Building Materials supplied the brickwork for the facade.
Gotham Point anchors the southern tip of Hunters Point South along Newtown Creek, which separates the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. On the other side, the neighborhood of Greenpoint is also experiencing a boom in high-rise development.
Six hanging scaffolding rigs currently protrude from the corner where the construction elevator was once attached.
Gotham Point. Photo by Michael Young
The overall Gotham Point development yields 1,132 rental apartments, of which 75 percent are dedicated to affordable housing with age-restricted homes for seniors, as well as a 1,100-seat Intermediate High School built by the School Construction Authority and a five-acre waterfront park constructed by New York City’s Economic Development Corporation. Handel Architects was the interior designer and BHDM was responsible for the model apartment interiors. Ninety-eight homes are reserved for senior residents with incomes between $15,806 and $85,920. These are housed within an 11-story wing with its own lobby, a lounge and laundry room on each floor, a library, and a community room with a shared pantry and special programming led by RiseBoro.
Residential amenities span over 50,000 square feet and include a dog washing station, garage with electric vehicle charging stations, a shared laundry room, common area Wi-Fi, gym, yoga and dance studio, media room, recreation room, business center, children’s room, rooftop terrace, senior center, concierge, on-site resident manager, and a community center.
The north tower of Gotham Points will finish construction in the second quarter of 2023.
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Permits have been filed for a 15-story mixed-use building at 1477 Third Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Located between East 83rd Street and East 84th Street, the lot is two blocks from the 86th Street subway station, serviced by the Q train. Noam Shemel of Kano Real Estate Investments is listed as the owner behind the applications.
The proposed 152-foot-tall development will yield 25,754 square feet, with 24,096 square feet designated for residential space and 1,658 square feet for commercial space. The building will have nine residences, most likely condos based on the average unit scope of 2,677 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 19.5-foot-long rear yard.
BKSK Architects is listed as the architect of record.
Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.
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