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Opera Star Charged With Disorderly Conduct After Restaurant Row
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 23, 2009
Modified Oct 25, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 23, 2009
Modified Oct 25, 2009
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A sexy South American opera singer who behaved like a real diva in an Upper West Side restaurant is due in court today to face charges of trespassing, theft of service, and disorderly conduct. It all started when diners at restaurant Nice Matin complained that soprano Gabriela Pochinki was carrying on a noisy cell phone conversation via speakerphone. And when a manager had the nerve to tell Pochinki—a Fulbright scholar who was the toast of Vienna for her portrayal of Maria in West Side Story—to pipe down, she got quite an earful!
A co-worker of manager Jeanette Josue says Pochinki waved her away, saying, "Get out of here. I'm not leaving." And when Josue returned—for the fourth time—Pochinki "really shoved her. She pushed her away, even as she turned away," the employee tells the Daily News. The altercation was caught on camera ("in color"!), so we've got that to look forward to.
Pochinki then declared she would not pay her $34 tab, and police were called to the scene. An NYPD source tells the Post, "She became unreasonably noisy."
Pochinki's business manager insists there must be some mistake, because "she's such a sweet person. I don't know what could have happened. She doesn't drink; she doesn't smoke. She's the most peaceful person you'll ever meet."
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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