Just found a great new blog that should be of interest to New York City foodies. NYC Tastes has reviews and incredible links that any real food fan will love. Check it out!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
WFAN's Mike and the Mad Dog
Now that Mike and the Mad Dog are no more, here's a vintage clip from a January show that shows what made them such a great team.
Friday, August 15, 2008
End of a Radio Era
Never thought this would happen. The wildly popular "Mike and the Mad Dog" afternoon sports radio show on WFAN is no more. They fired "Mad Dog" Chris Russo yesterday since he wouldn't commit to a long contract. Now it will only be Mike Francesca doing the show. This split had been rumored for a while and now it's official.
These guys have been doing that show since 1989. In NYC, it is the sports radio talk show, hugely influential, incredibly respected. It is (or was) a sports institution in this town, right after George Steinbrenner and the Harlem Globetrotters, and it's sad that it's no more.
Good luck to Chris Russo. NYC radio will never be quite the same.
Gotta Love New Yorkers
This is a nice little story from today's Daily News:
Good Samaritan who found $100 bill comes forward, thanked by owner
According to this article, if you lose your wallet in NYC, there's an 82% chance you'll get it back. Can you believe that? I really do think New Yorkers have some of the biggest hearts.
Good Samaritan who found $100 bill comes forward, thanked by owner
According to this article, if you lose your wallet in NYC, there's an 82% chance you'll get it back. Can you believe that? I really do think New Yorkers have some of the biggest hearts.
War Over Willets Point Part II
My previous entry about Willets Point has generated a little controversy but I choose to look at it as triggering a discussion. You can never stop learning things. Please check the Comments sections.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
War Over Willets Point
Every year or two an epic battle between developers and citizens erupts in New York City. There was the battle over the West Side Stadium in 2005 (which was killed) and then there was fight over the Atlantic Yards development project in Brooklyn (which wasn't killed) in 2006-2007. Now, in 2008, Willets Point in Queens is the new front is this perennial struggle.
Here's the deal: Mayor Bloomberg's administration and his developer friends want to rezone the area and use eminent domain laws to evict over 200 small businesses and tear up the whole neighborhood. Why? They want (allegedly) to build a hotel, a convention center, and lots of retail space. This gang considers Willet's Point "doomed" and they want to gussy it up and pimp it out. They believe tourists and convetioneers and fancy stores are gonna schlep all the way out to Corona, Queens (right near where Shea Stadium was and is) for this stuff. This is an area btw that is grossly underserved by public transportation (basically there's just the 7 train) and already is choking with traffic. If this plan goes through, not only will all these small businesses be wrecked so that big businesses move in, but already nightmarish traffic will be made worse. That's assuming that the crowds come, which I found doubtful. Can anyone say ... debacle?
This ain't happening without a fight. The City Council has to approve this and right now more than 32 members say they're opposed. The neighborhood is outraged by this plan and rightly so. The focus should be, as always, on building more affordable housing in this city. We need that more than anything else!
Why do some people think hotels and stadiums and convention centers are the answer to improve blighted cities or neighborhoods? Oh I know, "they create jobs" but most jobs in this country are created by small businesses. So I have an idea: make it easier for more small businesses to open in Willets Point (more jobs!) and build more affordable housing (more jobs and housing!). As always, it seems that some people don't want to do the right thing until they exhaust all of the alternatives.
If you want to know more check out today's Times' article about this: A Confrontation Over the Future of Willets Point. Also, there's a great blog called Queens Crap which is easily the best informational resource (better than the Times) about this and all things Queens.
Here's the deal: Mayor Bloomberg's administration and his developer friends want to rezone the area and use eminent domain laws to evict over 200 small businesses and tear up the whole neighborhood. Why? They want (allegedly) to build a hotel, a convention center, and lots of retail space. This gang considers Willet's Point "doomed" and they want to gussy it up and pimp it out. They believe tourists and convetioneers and fancy stores are gonna schlep all the way out to Corona, Queens (right near where Shea Stadium was and is) for this stuff. This is an area btw that is grossly underserved by public transportation (basically there's just the 7 train) and already is choking with traffic. If this plan goes through, not only will all these small businesses be wrecked so that big businesses move in, but already nightmarish traffic will be made worse. That's assuming that the crowds come, which I found doubtful. Can anyone say ... debacle?
This ain't happening without a fight. The City Council has to approve this and right now more than 32 members say they're opposed. The neighborhood is outraged by this plan and rightly so. The focus should be, as always, on building more affordable housing in this city. We need that more than anything else!
Why do some people think hotels and stadiums and convention centers are the answer to improve blighted cities or neighborhoods? Oh I know, "they create jobs" but most jobs in this country are created by small businesses. So I have an idea: make it easier for more small businesses to open in Willets Point (more jobs!) and build more affordable housing (more jobs and housing!). As always, it seems that some people don't want to do the right thing until they exhaust all of the alternatives.
If you want to know more check out today's Times' article about this: A Confrontation Over the Future of Willets Point. Also, there's a great blog called Queens Crap which is easily the best informational resource (better than the Times) about this and all things Queens.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Seatless Subway Cars
I know I'm a little late addressing this topic but I just wanted to chip in my two cents about the MTA proposal for seatless subway cars: I don't think it's a good idea. Admirable and understandable, but not a good a one.
These cars will have flip seats that, during rush hours, will be flipped up and locked. No seats for anyone, everyone will stand. That includes old people, sick people, pregnant women, and little children. Obviously the idea is that these cars will be roomier and able to carry more people thus reducing passenger congestion. And it won't cost the MTA or taxpayers any money.
But will it really? No.
It means that more people than ever will be riding the subways. More space, more passengers, more madness.
In addition, New Yorkers will be p'od that they all have to stand and bump into each other. Ever been on a crowded subways? Not fun. What makes standing on the subway bearable is the hope -- the precious, godforsaken hope -- that just maybe, just maybe!, we'll get lucky and snag a seat. But if the cars are seatless and that hope is dead, then riding on a crowded car will be sheer agony.
And what about those old people, sick people, pregnant women, and little children? They work and go to school during rush hours too. Should they be punished? Mr NYC says no.
So thumbs down on seatless subway cars. Good idea in theory, awful in practice. Of course, if I'm wrong, it won't be the first time.
These cars will have flip seats that, during rush hours, will be flipped up and locked. No seats for anyone, everyone will stand. That includes old people, sick people, pregnant women, and little children. Obviously the idea is that these cars will be roomier and able to carry more people thus reducing passenger congestion. And it won't cost the MTA or taxpayers any money.
But will it really? No.
It means that more people than ever will be riding the subways. More space, more passengers, more madness.
In addition, New Yorkers will be p'od that they all have to stand and bump into each other. Ever been on a crowded subways? Not fun. What makes standing on the subway bearable is the hope -- the precious, godforsaken hope -- that just maybe, just maybe!, we'll get lucky and snag a seat. But if the cars are seatless and that hope is dead, then riding on a crowded car will be sheer agony.
And what about those old people, sick people, pregnant women, and little children? They work and go to school during rush hours too. Should they be punished? Mr NYC says no.
So thumbs down on seatless subway cars. Good idea in theory, awful in practice. Of course, if I'm wrong, it won't be the first time.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Gotta Love New Yorkers
So during my aforementioned visit to Central Park today, we walked past a lady walking her bicycle down a path and overheard her say the following: "... so I told him: 'I don't want a boyfriend, there's no pressure, let's just be f@#k buddies' ..."
Don't you appreciate such enlightenment? What a nice lady!
P.S. This is my second Gotta Love New Yorkers. I think I'll make it a regular segment from now on.
Don't you appreciate such enlightenment? What a nice lady!
P.S. This is my second Gotta Love New Yorkers. I think I'll make it a regular segment from now on.
Newbie NYC
Just stumbled upon another really great NYC blog: Newbie NYC. Check it out, it puts Mr NYC to shame!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)