What's the Deal with Chipotle?

If you're like Mr NYC, then you're a consummate lover of Mexican food (and a consummate lover, ha ha ha - okay, sorry). Anyway, if you're looking out for good, cheap Mexican that isn't Taco Bell, then you may have seen the Chipotle Mexican Grills dotted around Manhattan. They are supposedly the "quality" Mexican fast food place, an Au Bon Pain-like establishment very much catering to Yuppies. So being a wannabe Yuppie, I recently went to the Chipotle in Soho and, I must say, was more than disappointed. In short:

1. The place is very noisy and crowded and the line moves at a glacial pace.

2. The tacos I had were small, didn't have a lot of seasonings or flavor (I love salsa, and the salsa on the tacos was spicy yet had no taste at all), and they were soggy. Plus there just wasn't something right about the ingredients - a guy on the message board linked here put it perfectly: "What can you say about a Mexican restaurant that makes burritos with white rice? 'WTF' comes to mind."

3. Chipotle is outrageously overpriced. Almost $7 for three lousy (and I mean lousy) tacos!

In short, very mediocre. Skip Chipotle and stick with Taco Bell. Thumbs down!

www.yelp.com

“It’s a goddamn phone booth! Who do you think I called?”

The New York Press has a great article today about the four remaining phone booths - yes, the actual metal and glass boxes that Superman changes in - in NYC. They are all, for reasons this article makes clear, on West End Avenue (between 66th and 101st streets).

If you've ever seen these phone booths and wonder why, in this huge city, there are only four left and why are all on West End Avenue (of all the godforsaken places), you will be shocked to learn that it's because of ONE person. You can either thank or scorn him, depending on your opinion of the phone booths. Personally, I'm glad in this cellphone/Blackberry era, we still have a few of these telephonic relics left.

DOES SUPERMAN LIVE ON WEST END AVENUE

See, even in NYC, one weirdo can make a difference!

Ruthless Rudy

Read this article in today's New York Times. It will send chills down your spine and heat to your head.

In Matters Big and Small, Crossing Giuliani Had Price

New York Giants Are Going To Super Bowl XLII - 2-3-2008

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night's game was a nail-biter and it was damn close but the Giants pulled it off and NYC is heading to the Bowl against the sinister forces of New England. Eli Manning, et al. were phenomenal in toppling a very formidable team.

Good luck on February 3rd. Go Giants!

Interview: Russ Smith, MUGGER Columnist and Founder of NYPress

Depending on your politics, Russ Smith can either make your blood pressure explode or your face smile with joy. But he doesn't care: he just tells you how he sees it. An unapologetically conservative voice in the media world, Smith writes the regular MUGGER column in the NYPress, which he also founded in 1988 (you know the NYPress, it's the free, funny, colorful newspaper you see each week in those green newspaper boxes on the street). Besides MUGGER, Smith has contributed to the Wall Street Journal Editorial Page and The New York Sun, amongst others.

But Smith isn't just a bold writer - he's also one of the great entrepreneurs of the alternative press. Before the NYPress, he founded the Baltimore City Paper and Washington City Paper and was lighting a fire under the media world long before things Gawker or TMZ came along. Smith sold the NYPress and moved to Baltimore a few years ago but his imprint on the NYPress and the New York press remains strong today.

Smith was kind enough to share his thoughts on journalism, politics, and what he misses about NYC.

What attracted you to journalism and, in particular, the world of alternative newspapers?

I was attracted to journalism as a kid, growing up on Long Island and having access to six or seven newspapers each day. I started reading the Voice in '65, when I was 10, and Rolling Stone when it started in '67, and wrote for the underground paper—The Crux—at Huntington High School. A summer job at the Baltimore Sun when I was 21 convinced me I didn't want to be a daily journalist, subject to the whims of self-important editors and in the company of reporters who wanted to be the next Bob Woodward.

Why did you found NYPress?

I founded NYPress in '88 after selling Baltimore City Paper the previous fall. I felt the Voice, which was still a paid weekly, had overpriced itself in the marketplace and that a quality free weekly could prosper.

You have strong political views. Tell us about your political philosophy and what kind of country you think this should be?

My political views are fairly straightforward: low taxes and tax reform (flat tax), strong foreign policy, steadfast defense of Israel, tort reform, Social Security overhaul and a sensible, humane policy on immigration. On social issues, I'm pro-choice, in favor of legalized gambling and prostitution, decriminalization of marijuana, dodge ball and kickball at recess in elementary schools and allowing gay men and women to marry.

You've been a big supporter of President Bush. Has he done a good job and has the country become a better place under his leadership?

Bush's tenure has had its ups and downs, but I believe he'll viewed more favorably in 20 years or so. His administration bungled the Iraq war after the initial invasion but it was the correct decision to get [rid] of Saddam Hussein, something his father should have done, like Bill Clinton as well. Bush had the right ideas about immigration and Social Security but didn't press hard enough for meaningful reform. That he at least partially caved to restrictionists in the Republican party, as well as kooks like Lou Dobbs is one of the huge disappointments of the past few years. His appointment of Roberts and Alito were significant achievements. Getting buffaloed by Teddy Kennedy on education--and backing down on vouchers--was not.

How do you see the 2008 presidential election turning out? Will it be a big
Democratic year or will the Republicans strike back?

It will certainly be a Democratic year in the Senate, if only because the GOP has twice as many seats to defend. Hard to tell, but it seems to me that if McCain isn't the nominee, a Democrat, even Hillary Clinton, will cruise to victory in November. McCain could beat Clinton, but probably not Obama.

What do you miss about NYC?

I miss the bodegas on every block in Manhattan. I don't miss the traffic, high cost of living, Yankee fans or the absurd competition among affluent parents trying to get their kids into the "right" private school. I miss decent takeout food, the ability to buy a copy of The New York Sun at a newsstand, outstanding Italian, Chinese and Thai restaurants, longtime friends in Tribeca and having a super who can fix leaky sinks and toilets.

Thanks!

MUGGER

Hercules in New york - Herc loves new york

Before he terminated people or governed California, The Arnold appeared in this 1970s B-movie masterpiece, "Hercules in New York."

In this flick, Hercules son of Zeus, bored with life on Mount Olympus, decides to escape his oppressive home life and have fun in NYC. These clips show him walking around town with a cute dame, then it cuts to his nebbishy friend.

Isn't it nice to know that NYC can even impress Greek Gods? And who knew they spoke with Austrian accents?

A New York politics honey is going national ...

... and no, we're not talking about Hillary Clinton or Mrs. Giuliani. It's someone far more important: Sandra Endo, the lovely political reporter for NY1.

CNN has won her heart and is sweeping her away to Washington where she will report on all the wonderful people who do such a heckuva job governing our country. Now America will have the pleasure of getting to ogle - I mean, watch her on TV too.

So long Sandra, we knew (and loved to watch you) when. I guess this town wasn't big enough for you. But if you can make it here, you can make it ... in DC. (Sigh)

CNN Newsource Hires Sandra Endo as Correspondent for D.C. Bureau

Seasons of Love - Rent (Music Video)

Well it had to happen eventually: "Rent" is closing on Broadway. After 12 years, it will close on June 1.

I saw this in 1997, about a year after its historic opening, and enjoyed it (although it was a bit loud). I own the soundtrack and usually listen to it a couple of times a year - and I'll never stop.

Mucho Musto!

You may recall that a couple of months ago Village Voice columnist Michael Musto was kind enough to do an interview for Mr NYC. Well, this morning I was honored to be included in an email alert he sent out, informing us big media folks of his new blog:

"Hi, friends and lovers. Here's a link to my kooky new blog, "La Daily Musto," which I'm doing in addition to the kooky old column, "La Dolce Musto." Can there ever be too much Musto? As one poster already commented,"Yes!" But still, just to humor me, please click on it, comment on it, or relieve yourself on it--but just get on it now! Thank you, kids!"

Naturally Mr NYC will click on it and comment on it and link to it but I shall refrain from relieving myself on it as that might cause expensive damage to my computer. And no, there can't ever be too much Musto. At Mr NYC, we say mucho Musto!

The tourists are coming! And spending

Well I guess that the falling value of the dollar is good for something: it's made lots of foreign visitors want to come and spend money here.

As the Times reported yesterday, 46 million people visited our fair city in 2007 and injected $28 billion into our economic bloodstream - or roughly half of Bill Gates' net worth. If only Bill would come here and go on a spending spree ...

Manhattan: City Reports Record Number of Visitors