(Editor’s note: NewYorkology’s testing out a new format for passing on links of interest. This is what’s on the NYC radar this Thursday morning.)
eBay will open a five day pop-up shop on 57th Street, according to WWD magazine (by way of The Shophound, which has a picture of the pop-up’s storefront in progress.)
Due to demand, the free Brooklyn ferry to Governors Island will now run every Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day, the Brooklyn Paper reports. The free service started in June, but only on some weekend days. Free ferry service from Manhattan to Governors Island will continue as-is on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until the urban refuge closes for the season on Oct. 11.
By a 42-2 vote, the City Council on Wednesday passed the controversial Coney Island re-zoning plan that would allow 27-acres of high-rise hotels and a natty entertainment complex. The city is also close to acquiring the remaining land from developer Joe Sitt, according to Crain’s.
A man is in a coma after he was hit by a rotted branch that snapped and fell from a Central Park tree, the Post reports.
If you pass by Ricky’s on Third Avenue, you may see a woman sleeping in the front window. (Pictured, top.)
The City Council approved a plan to require licensing for pedicabs, the NY Times reports.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the MTA says there will be no subway fare hikes in 2010, according to the New York Times.
Boutique Fashion Nights resumes tonight in Brooklyn with discounts, wine and snacks and dozens of locations.
And if the weather holds, there’s tons of free outdoor concerts, films and plays, including a screening of “To Catch A Thief” at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Broadway in Bryant Park at lunchtime, Ladysmith Black Mambazo at MetroTech and a new production from Shakespeare in the Parking Lot.
Met Museum video: “Isaac Mizrahi Discusses “Unzipped” with Harold Koda and Kohle Yohannan” on the Met Museum’s YouTube channel
NYC mayoral hopeful Naked Cowboy lives in Jersey (Post) Since deciding to run for mayor of New York City, Burck started watching Fox News for hours on end and reading such books as Bill O’Reilly’s “Culture Warrior” and “A Documentary History of the United States” by Richard Heffner.
30 Rock’s murals getting major restoration (NY Times) Then he realized that the simplest method was still the best: gently rubbing all the surfaces with an agate burnisher or a bone folder, a tool more commonly used for book binding. By working slowly, in tiny sections, the varnish began to flake off easily. “It’s a green, incredibly low-tech solution,” Mr. Greene said. Still, he added, “it is going to take two years to get through all the murals, one inch at a time.”
Cricket player critical after Brooklyn lightning strike (Daily News) It started raining. The thunder cracked, and he just fell,” said witness Dominic Audain, 22, a cricket player on the opposing team, Middlesex Cricket Country Club.
A tour of NYC Italian ices (Serious Eats) Court Pastry Shop, a traditional Italian establishment in Cobble Hill, had what was to me the clearest definition of an Italian ice. It was light, lemony, faintly sweet, and ultimately refreshing
Variable pricing at Midtown hot dog stands (Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood via Grub Street/Midtown Lunch) I soon realise that no item on his cart has a fixed price. “You see, it’s $1.50 for him,” Ayman says, gesturing toward a Jersey Dad, who is enjoying a hot dog with sauerkraut, “but not for everybody. Sometimes $2, sometimes .75. Depends how they look.”
Neighborhoods and subneighborhoods south of Prospect Park (Forgotten NY) Beaux Arts apartment building on Ocean Avenue and Beverl(e)y Road (it’s spelled differently depending on where you are). In the late 1800s architects and sculptors often placed whimsical-looking ornamental carvings on their buildings. …
More NY: Chinese sandwiches, Sony Lab, singing cows
Michael Jackson RIP mural downtown. By Moses Gates of All City New York.
First Look at Mantao Chinese Sandwiches (Serious Eats) The sandwiches range from $2.50 to $4.50. They’re dainty things—you’d probably want two for a meal, although one makes a nice snack. The soft and fluffy sesame seed-topped bread is the best part about the sandwiches. The fillings, while not bad, are less memorable (right now, at least; hopefully they’ll improve with time).
Must-See New York: New Sony Wonder Technology Lab (Mommy Poppins) New York is full of great children’s museums, but the Sony Wonder Technology Lab does one thing really, really well that none of the other children’s museums in New York City currently do: it teaches kids about the stuff they want to learn about most, technology.
Evolution of the South Ferry and Wall Street subway stations (Forgotten NY) To show them both on a Forgotten NY page is a testament to the gradual changes in design that have happened over a century-long period, from the Beaux Arts era to the streamlined early 2000s …
Free “Click Clack Moo” kids musical attracts big talent (Post) Which is why this summer’s free musical will be the starry-est yet, with lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (“Altar Boyz”), music by Rodgers Award-winning composer Brad Alexander and — as cranky Farmer Brown — Drew McVety, whose Broadway credits include “Sunday in the Park With George” and “Titanic.”
New York’s Great Sunset Spots: Pier 84 (Mindful Walker) Pier 84 (located right off 12th Avenue near West 44th Street), opened three years ago after a restoration and renovation, is the largest public pier in Hudson River Park, and it offers a bunch of everything for those who love the city’s edges of water: a classroom and interpretive area; an interactive water play area with pumps and little canal gates; fishing; bike rental; water taxi stop; and more.
Northeast tomatoes threatened by fungus (New York Times) A highly contagious fungus that destroys tomato plants has quickly spread to nearly every state in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic, and the weather over the next week may determine whether the outbreak abates or whether tomato crops are ruined, according to federal and state agriculture officials.
More NY: Jane's Carousel, Central Park audio, MoMA
“Installation of Waste Not as part of Projects 90: Song Dong at MoMA” from MoMA’s YouTube channel.
Central Park cell-phone tour launches (Post) Starting today, signs posted throughout the park will provide a phone number and a code visitors can dial to hear the likes of Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon and Isabella Rossellini ramble on about the Ramble, the Great Lawn and the Reservoir.
Jane’s Carousel heading to Brooklyn Bridge Park (Brownstoner) The Carousel will be located on the western edge of the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park inside the pavilion designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel.
Airport security fast-pass company goes belly up (USA Today) A statement on Verified’s website said the company “had been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.” There was no information about whether enrollees would get refunds.
Federal judge nixes NYC’s hybrid taxi law (NY Times) Judge Paul A. Crotty of Federal District Court in Manhattan said a plan to financially penalize taxi owners who refused to buy hybrid cars amounted to an effort by the city to mandate emissions standards — a right that, under existing laws, belongs solely to the federal government.
A front-row chicken bucket and other horribly bad acts of Broadway theatergoers (Wall Street Journal) During a Saturday matinee of the Holocaust drama “Irena’s Vow,” a man walked in late and called up to actress Tovah Feldshuh to halt her monologue until he got settled. “He shouted, ‘Can you please wait a second?’ and then continued on toward his seat,” recalls Nick Ahlers, a science teacher from Newark, N.J., who was in the audience.
Parents pulling the plugs on Williamsburg hipster trustafarians (NY Times) Famed for its concentration of heavily subsidized 20-something residents — also nicknamed trust-funders or trustafarians — Williamsburg is showing signs of trouble. Parents whose money helped fuel one of the city’s most radical gentrifications in recent years have stopped buying their children new luxury condos, subsidizing rents and providing cash to spend at Bedford Avenue’s boutiques and coffee houses.
Coney beaches remain closed due to sewage contamination (Daily News) Hundreds of disappointed beachgoers were left cooling their heels on shore after fears surfaced that sewage might have spilled onto Coney Island and Manhattan beaches from a treatment plant.
Walking the five bridges of Harlem-South Bronx (Forgotten NY) New York City borders on an ocean, several straits and a tidal estuary (the Hudson River). This propitious location has given rise to over 400 bridges, including two of the four remaining rectractile bridges in the USA
Borough-by-borough, oldest homes in NYC (Bowery Boys) The oldest house in New York belonged to Pieter Claesen Wyckoff and he built it around 1652, living there approximately 43 years after Henry Hudson had sailed into New York harbor.
More NY: Tim Gunn, Coney's star, 'Coraline' reviews
Tim Gunn peruses the New York Public Library’s hidden fashion gems with Clayton Kirking, NYPL chief of art & information services. On NYPL’s YouTube channel.
Astroland star going from Coney to Smithsonian (National Air and Space Museum press release) Next week another huge star will arrive to stay—the 8-foot-high lighted star from Coney Island’s now closed space-age theme park, Astroland, will join the museum’s popular culture collection where it will be housed along other science fiction icons such as the Star Trek starship Enterprise. The Star will go on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center after construction of Phase Two of the center is completed in 2011.
Mere 4 pct tourism decline predicted (Crain’s) The city’s tourism bureau, NYC & Company, is predicting that more than 12 million visitors will arrive here during June, July and August. That’s just 4% below last summer’s levels, and a far better performance than experts had predicted.
Review roundup of “Coraline” Off-Broadway (Critic-o-Meter) While this adventurous Off-Broadway musicalization of Neil Gaiman’s dark fairy tale has some full-throated partisans who find it an imagination-stirring romp, most reviews are decidedly mixed on the production’s seam-showing, low-tech approach.
Q&A with Ruth Reichl, editor in chief of Gourmet (Midtown Lunch) Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The Mysore masala dosa, saag paneer, and brinjal bhartha at Minar (on 46th btw. 6+7th.) White rice, chicken, all the vegetables, no white sauce at the Halal Chicken Curry Cart (on 43rd and 6th.) …
$10 million more donated to High Line park (NY Times) The first phase of the High Line, which runs from Gansevoort Street in the meatpacking district to 20th Street, is to open this month. The meandering path 30 feet above the street — with plantings and water areas designed by Field Operations, a landscape architecture company, and Diller Scofidio & Renfro, the architectural firm — will ultimately extend to 34th Street.
Yankee Stadium home-run hitters have winds at their backs (USA Today) According to the Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md., there is a 40% chance of above-average temperatures for the next three months in New York, and warm weather will only help the baseballs travel farther.
Agreement reached to tear down most of Admiral’s Row (Brooklyn Paper) The city and National Guard reached an agreement to save two decrepit, yet historic, buildings in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and destroy eight others, ending an impasse and allowing the Navy Yard to proceed with its controversial plan to build a supermarket.
Toys R Us buys FAO Schwarz (Reuters) “We will work tirelessly to preserve the distinctiveness and integrity of the FAO Schwarz stores and brand as we grow the business,” Jerry Storch, chief executive of Toys R Us said in a statement.
Roosevelt Island tram unlikely to close in July as planned (Roosevelt Islander) “As of today, tentatively postponed until September, to reopen February. Will finalize decision tomorrow. All parties are here in our office for progress meeting.”
Free waffles on Thursday (@waffletruck on Twitter) We’re pretty happy with our new truck. In fact, we SO happy we’re giving out free waffles tomorrow betw 12pm and 1pm (at 45th and 6th).
Payard Patisserie warns workers the shop may shutter (Crain’s) Landlord, Stephen Kirschenbaum, wants to double the rent for the space on Lexington Avenue between East 73rd and East 74th streets to $1 million annually.
Burberry tonight flips the switch on its new skyline neon (Shophound) Older New Yorkers will remember this space as one that once held the Newsweek sign and, more recently, one for New York Magazine, but now it belongs to the British luxury brand who has won the signage by taking four floors in the building for its headquarters serving both North and South America.
Gehry may get bumped from Brooklyn Nets arena project (Daily News) A midwest architectural firm that has designed dozens of professional sports arenas could bump Frank Gehry and his glitzy arena vision from the Atlantic Yards project.
HP/American Airlines survey shows travelers hungry for wi-fi (American Airlines) More than 47 percent of business travelers surveyed indicated Wi-Fi was the most important airport amenity, outscoring basic travels needs such as food by nearly 30 percentage points.
Baja Fresh now open on Lexington between 45th and 46th (Midtown Lunch) Glad to hear they give you free chips (a huge plus) and that the salsa bar is in effect… although I’m a little wary of the mango/pineapple salsa. Don’t remember ever seeing that in SoCal. And $7.75 for a burrito is a bit more expensive than I was hoping, so it’s not all good news.
Governors Island opening day logistics (Governors Island blog) Gates to the polo match will open at 11 AM. The public is invited to watch the match free of charge. Bleachers and lawn seating will be available to the public on a first come, first served basis. You are welcome to bring your own food, or you can purchase food once you get here.
Non-Cupcake Breakfast Cakes at Sweet Revenge (Serious Eats) Though known for their cupcake and wine pairings, Sweet Revenge strays into savory ventures as well. On their breakfast menu, the “Croque Monsieur” ($5.50,) is a loose interpretation of the classic French sandwich—a fist-sized ham and Jarlsberg cake, with a honey Dijon sauce on the side.
New Water Street mural (Dumbo NYC) The theme is one of harmonizing artists of different styles with the 4 elephants representing each artist. The message that in life, there are obstacles and barriers that are lifted away to result in success.
Spencer Finch Piece Installed on the High Line (High Line Blog) The River That Flows Both Ways, is made up of 700 individual panes of glass, each hued to represent a color of light reflected off the Hudson River.
Free Family Friendly Shakespeare—Beyond the Park (Mommy Poppins) From “Shakespeare on the Run” where the audience literally has to chase the performers to the comedic Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, there’s plenty of more accessible Shakespeare to be seen
Gunnery, new and old (Tugster: A Waterblog) Why is this bollard so strangely shaped? It’s a repurposed cannon in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In this case, as weapons systems were upgraded, older tubes were redefined, not scrapped.
Metro-North station opens at Yankee Stadium (MTA) “Today, it has finally arrived. The new Yankees – E. 153rd Street MTA Metro-North Railroad station is the first railroad station to open anywhere in the Bronx in decades.”
Q&A with Danny Meyer (Wall Street Journal, via @palafo and @mollyblock) There is an enormous amount of discounting going on, which is highly unusual in our end of the business. I understand the rationale for discounting now because there is 20% to 25% less demand for restaurant seats than there was a year to a year and a half ago.
International Art & Design Fair cancels fall NY dates (Antiques Trade Gazette via ArtInfo and ArtNet) Fairs at the Park Avenue Armory on Upper East Side are especially vulnerable to the recession – the Armory is famously expensive and payment is in advance – and this is the Haughtons’ second casualty of the year following the cancellation of the International Asian Art Fair planned for March.
More NY: Jack mural, 1549 luggage, subway thinning
Jack Nicholson mural tribute on Delevan Street at Van Brunt, Brooklyn. Picture by Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
Salvaged luggage returned to Flight 1549 passengers (sans cash) (NY Times) Still, Ms. Barnhardt said, she was pleasantly surprised by the condition of things that had spent days on a plane that had been submerged in the Hudson in midwinter. She said that a pair of running shoes “looked brand-new” and that she was able to retrieve the data from four computer flash drives.
Layoffs lead to lower subway ridership (Post) For the year to date, subway ridership was down 1.2 percent — about 4.7 million trips — compared to the same period last year.
H1N1 death in NYC: Asst. principal Mitchell Wiener (Daily News) Four students at Intermediate School 238 in Hollis also have confirmed cases of the new H1N1 virus, but Wiener had a particularly bad case that shut down his kidneys and ravaged his lungs.
Midtown Lunch redesigns, adds forms, amps up maps (Midtown Lunch) Part of that new design is a brand new map, which is not only more accurate, and comprehensive than before, but also allows you greater control over the type of lunch you are looking for near the spot where you are going to be.
Best NYC museum openings for Summer 2009 (Walking Off the Big Apple) What follows is a list of selected (meaning, not all) summer museum and other art center exhibitions opening in New York City in June, July, and August of 2009, along with continuing exhibitions that open in late May. I have starred * my recommendations.
Appeals court OKs eminent domain for Brooklyn Nets arena (NY Times) An hour after learning that a state appeals court had dismissed a major challenge to his long-delayed Atlantic Yards development project, the developer Bruce C. Ratner said he planned to break ground by October on an $800 million basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets in Brooklyn.
