If you've never heard of Ellie Greenwich, you definitely heard some of her songs. "Chapel of Love?" "Be My Baby?" "Leader of the Pack"? "Hanky Panky"? She wrote these and other hits and defined pop music for a generation.
She died last week of a heart attack (her age was not disclosed). A Brooklyn native who songs had the earthy sexiness of her native city, Ellie Greenwich's music will live forever.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Ronettes - Be my baby
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Back
Mr NYC has packed up his fishing pole and swimming trunks and returned to civilization. I feel great. All of the usual stresses and nervousness have been wrung out and replaced by a Zen-like calm. Now the fall and its attendant challenges and joys await. Back to work.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Outta Town
Mr NYC will be taking a respite for a 'lil bit, going someplace where there's less traffic and more trees. So no updates for the next week or so -- unless I get my hands on a 'puter and have something brilliant to say (which would be a first). Until then ...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The NYC Teenager
What Happened to the NYC Teenager?
Well, a lot of them went on reality TV. Or they stopped being teenagers. They got older, went to work, gained weight, lost hair, and developed ulcers.
NYC may be the greatest city in the world but being a teenager anywhere, anytime is the worst.
Well, a lot of them went on reality TV. Or they stopped being teenagers. They got older, went to work, gained weight, lost hair, and developed ulcers.
NYC may be the greatest city in the world but being a teenager anywhere, anytime is the worst.
NY No Longer has a Lt. Governor
The State Appeals court has ruled Governor Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor was illegal. So now we don't have a tie-breaker for the State Senate which puts it in danger of more coup hi jinks. Let's hope this doesn't happen again.
That said, I agree with this decision. Lieutenant Governors or Vice-Presidents or whoever is first in-line to take over any elected job needs to be an elected official as well. Either that, or the appointed #2 needs to be confirmed by the legislature. So this was the right move by the court even though I totally sympathize with Governor Paterson's move. Let's wish him luck.
That said, I agree with this decision. Lieutenant Governors or Vice-Presidents or whoever is first in-line to take over any elected job needs to be an elected official as well. Either that, or the appointed #2 needs to be confirmed by the legislature. So this was the right move by the court even though I totally sympathize with Governor Paterson's move. Let's wish him luck.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Eating in the Clouds
With the opening of the Highline, NYC now has its first park in the sky. But according to this in-depth article in the New York Observer, "skyscraper restaurants" that look literally look down on the town are withering away.
The Rainbow Room is closed and is having trouble finding a buyer. Other such restaurants are falling on hard times (what isn't these days?). The most popular of these eateries remains the one that revolves at the top of the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square. The views sound great but I've never known anyone who's gone there -- or wanted to -- and it's supposed to be not only tacky but something of a culinary graveyard. Considering it's at the top of a hotel, what can you expect?
Obviously the most tragic of the city's sky-high restaurants is Windows on the World that was atop the World Trade Centers and came crashing down with it. I went there once for a party about ten years ago and the views were stunning but the food ... eh. Still, we all wish it was still there.
I haven't been to that many "elevated" restaurants in NYC but I did go to one recently and it's the fantastic. Interestingly, it's far away from midtown and doesn't attract a tourist crowd. It's called Terrace in the Sky and is located on 119th street between Morningside Drive and Amsterdam Avenue. It attracts a lot of people associated with nearby Columbia University and it not only has gorgeous views of Manhattan but also really great food.
The Terrace is a particularly great place in the summertime as you eat in twilight, watching the sun going down over the city and then seeing the glittering lights of Gotham coming alive. Along with a great meal, this place makes for a magical night.
The Rainbow Room is closed and is having trouble finding a buyer. Other such restaurants are falling on hard times (what isn't these days?). The most popular of these eateries remains the one that revolves at the top of the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square. The views sound great but I've never known anyone who's gone there -- or wanted to -- and it's supposed to be not only tacky but something of a culinary graveyard. Considering it's at the top of a hotel, what can you expect?
Obviously the most tragic of the city's sky-high restaurants is Windows on the World that was atop the World Trade Centers and came crashing down with it. I went there once for a party about ten years ago and the views were stunning but the food ... eh. Still, we all wish it was still there.
I haven't been to that many "elevated" restaurants in NYC but I did go to one recently and it's the fantastic. Interestingly, it's far away from midtown and doesn't attract a tourist crowd. It's called Terrace in the Sky and is located on 119th street between Morningside Drive and Amsterdam Avenue. It attracts a lot of people associated with nearby Columbia University and it not only has gorgeous views of Manhattan but also really great food.
The Terrace is a particularly great place in the summertime as you eat in twilight, watching the sun going down over the city and then seeing the glittering lights of Gotham coming alive. Along with a great meal, this place makes for a magical night.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Bloomberg and the Naked Cowboy
They're both running for mayor. And this week's New Yorker has interesting profiles of them.
First, the Bloomberg profile is a very long, very insightful expose of how this odd-ball billionaire wields power in NYC. On the one hand the profile is glowing; on the other hand, it's quite damning.
In short: Bloomberg's money and connections have benefited New York City's schools, health, parks, and quality of life immensely. He obviously can't be bought and that has kept our city government relatively scandal-free. Considering everything that's going down in New Jersey at the moment, this is something of a miracle.
The problems: Bloomberg's policies have helped the wealthy and developers more than the middle class. He's detached from the problems of ordinary New Yorkers and doesn't seem to care. And even though he can't be bought, his money means he can buy (and buy-off) other people, including his political competition. This has made him a virtual dictator, an inverse of the corrupting influence of money in politics, and basically making Bloomberg, as the richest and most powerful man in town, a modern day Medici. Ouch.
Second, the Naked Cowboy. It's actually a short, as-told-to piece by the father of the Naked Cowboy who lives in Ohio. He tells the story of how his weird, wayward son came to NYC and became the city's third most popular tourist attraction! WTF?
As Cindy Adams would say: Only in New York, kids. Only in New York.
First, the Bloomberg profile is a very long, very insightful expose of how this odd-ball billionaire wields power in NYC. On the one hand the profile is glowing; on the other hand, it's quite damning.
In short: Bloomberg's money and connections have benefited New York City's schools, health, parks, and quality of life immensely. He obviously can't be bought and that has kept our city government relatively scandal-free. Considering everything that's going down in New Jersey at the moment, this is something of a miracle.
The problems: Bloomberg's policies have helped the wealthy and developers more than the middle class. He's detached from the problems of ordinary New Yorkers and doesn't seem to care. And even though he can't be bought, his money means he can buy (and buy-off) other people, including his political competition. This has made him a virtual dictator, an inverse of the corrupting influence of money in politics, and basically making Bloomberg, as the richest and most powerful man in town, a modern day Medici. Ouch.
Second, the Naked Cowboy. It's actually a short, as-told-to piece by the father of the Naked Cowboy who lives in Ohio. He tells the story of how his weird, wayward son came to NYC and became the city's third most popular tourist attraction! WTF?
As Cindy Adams would say: Only in New York, kids. Only in New York.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Studio 360
Last year Kurt Andersen, host of the radio show Studio 360, did a great short interview for this blog. As always, he was and is one of the smartest and most articulate social critics around.
You really must listen to Studio 360 as often as you can, it's one of the best long-form interview shows on the radio -- or anywhere -- today. You can find it broadcast several times during the weekends on WNYC.
Recently Kurt rebroadcast some interviews his did about Andy Warhol as well as one with John Cale, the front-man for The Velvet Underground -- one of the greatest rock bands (and a New York band) ever. If you have the time, take a listen. You won't regret it.
You really must listen to Studio 360 as often as you can, it's one of the best long-form interview shows on the radio -- or anywhere -- today. You can find it broadcast several times during the weekends on WNYC.
Recently Kurt rebroadcast some interviews his did about Andy Warhol as well as one with John Cale, the front-man for The Velvet Underground -- one of the greatest rock bands (and a New York band) ever. If you have the time, take a listen. You won't regret it.
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