neighborhoods-landmarks

Do You Ever Feel Not-So-Fresh?

Jessica · 06/10/05 10:22AM

Admit it: this exact idea has crossed your mind before.
Would New York smell half as, um, sweet if it weren't for the complete lack of dependable plumbing in our "finest" buildings? We think not, but the endearing idiosyncrasies of one's shower are hardly as charming during this diabolical heat. After realizing his shower was out of commission, Jake Bronstein's problem-solving skills led him to the Bryant Park fountain for a quick rinse. The adventure left Bronstein squeaky clean, a feeling which should last for about 5 minutes on the town.

Bike Dudes Wear Funny Hats

Leitch · 06/10/05 09:09AM


We have always thought that bike messengers were the undead, like in Death Becomes Her or even Weekend At Bernie's. They flip in and out of traffic so fast, they have been impaled on a few side mirrors. We know they're good at avoiding collisions; we just think they must be made of rubber too.

Contest: Help Ryan Parry Break Into New York

abalk · 05/13/05 11:22AM

According to The Guardian's media section (registration required), Ryan Parry, the Daily Mirror reporter who made headlines in 2003 when he famously infiltrated Buckingham Palace and Windsor, and took pictures of the Queen's breakfast table, which included cereal kept in Tupperware boxes, will be coming to our fair city as that paper's New York correspondent. (Because what this town really needs is another British journalist.) As a special welcome to our newest resident, we'd like you to suggest a few locations Mr. Parry might like to infiltrate here in town. (Bear in mind that no one wants to see photos of the Mayor's throw pillows.) Send your suggestions to tips@gawker.com and we'll print the best ones at the end of the day. The winners receive the satisfaction of knowing that they've helped me meet my post quota as I run out the clock on my increasingly tiresome tenure here. Thanks! AB

Wall Collapses On Hudson Parkway, Old Ladies Blink

Jessica · 05/13/05 07:32AM

Late yesterday afternoon, a 97-year-old retaining wall collapsed on the Hudson Parkway, harming no one but inconviencing hundreds of nannies eager to get home from a hard day's work on Riverside Drive. Longtime residents of neighborhood were suitably rocked by the events:

Amy Sacco Really, Really Hates the Gays

Jessica · 05/11/05 01:11PM

Hipper-than-thou restaurant/club proprietress Amy Sacco is ratcheting up her campaign to terrorize Chelsea with her not-yet-opened eatery on West 23rd Street, Bette Restaurant. (To recap: Bette is housed within the thoroughly fabulous London Terrace complex home to Annie Leibovitz, Chelsea Clinton, and others and several months ago her contractors managed to blow out the gas to the entire building at 465 West 23rd.)

Square One at Ground Zero

Jesse · 05/05/05 08:45AM

Remember how much everyone loved Daniel Libeskind's World Trade Center master plan back when he first unveiled it? Yeah, well, fuck of a lot of good it's doing Dan now, as he lies curled up in a ball at developer Larry Silverstein's feet. Today's Post:

On Astor Place: Everybody's A Critic

mgross · 04/27/05 12:42PM

Architect Charles Gwathmey's took critic Paul Goldberger's review of his first residential tower in this week's New Yorker rather well, don't you think?—MG

NYU: It Takes the Village

mgross · 04/27/05 07:56AM

A plan to alter Washington Square, add a five-foot-high fence to close the park at night, and move and remove trees and popular attractions, is the latest fracas pitting Greenwich Village residents against their ber-neighbor, New York University. The fifty-year conflict has seen buildings demolished, tenants evicted, roads vanish from city maps, public land disappear and even a bizarre scheme to dome the historic park. More recently, N.Y.U. tried to close several more streets around the park—almost all lined with N.Y.U buildings—to extend its "campus-like area." So the Greenwich Village Block Associations are howling along with the dogs in the square's soon-to-be-relocated dog runs. They say:

Mario Batali, Man of the People

lock · 04/22/05 10:26AM

A Gawker correspondent reports from Mario Batali's still-trendy pizza joint Otto in the Village,

The Manhattan Suckage Map

Jessica · 04/21/05 12:38PM


Click to enlarge.
File this one under Great Moments In Google Maps: a search for locations under "you suck" in New York turns up some interesting listings. The Village Voice, CBGB, The New York Sun, Matador Records, and several other amusing answers are included, although we would never encourage anyone to avoid the Gay City News.

Like Columbus And America, Pomeranc 'Discovers' Allen Street

Jessica · 03/30/05 04:22PM


LES denizens, behold your new darklord, hotelier Jason Pomeranc, who has commenced his hostile takeover of Allen Street's "neglected frontier." The new hotel, located between Houston and Stanton, will feature a swimming pool, spa, and, if you're lucky, a shithole only half as bad as that of the Hotel on Rivington.

Breaking: Williamsburg Is Back!

Jessica · 03/21/05 10:22AM

On the front page of yesterday's Times Real Estate section, a major story that made us spontaneously gurgle:

Another Nail In Williamsburg's Coffin

Jessica · 03/15/05 02:40PM

We're sure the good people over at the uncomfortably-titled RapeMap organization mean well with their map of unsafe areas, but since those areas seem to be defined more or less as "Williamsburg," this strikes us as yet another compelling reason to stay in Manhattan. Between the angular mohawks, the dangerous tree-lined streets, the errant strollers, the bickering couples, and, apparently, the frenzied rapists, Brooklyn has become an epicenter of dangerous activity.