Santa-Con…
(18 Dec 10)
What is the collective term for Santas? SantaCon of course! The unofficial convention of Santas in New York that happened on 11 December. To quote the organizers, it is "non-denominational, non-commercial, non-political and non-sensical!" Also that it happens once a year for absolutely no reason. Organizers also stressed that it was not a pub-crawl (as any time you call it so, a sugarplum fairy dies). The guidelines also note that Santas should bring gifts – a song, dance, or joke will do - and that Santas never endanger anyone with violence, vandalism, inappropriate groping or theft. Plus Santa never gets so jolly that he needs a helping hand (or hoof) to get home. http://nycsantacon.com
Coffee & Alcohol…
(18 Dec 10)
Last weekend marked the end of one of the more controversial drinks available in New York City. The "Four Loko" drink was a mix of alcohol and caffeine but predominantly marketed to the teen and underage market. It mixed the alcohol content of 2 or 3 beers, with the caffeine of at least one strong coffee, but was within a fruit flavoured fizzy drink. So it was really easy to drink, very potent, and kids would drink it without realizing how drunk they were. Some got sick, others died. So after a relatively short period of consultation and campaigning, the drink has now been banned in New York State. Yes you can still get the same results from mixing other drinks with other alcohol, but the underage way of which this particular drink was marketed was particularly cynical.
Humane mousetraps…
(11 Dec 10)
Being an older city, New York has problems with rats, rodents, and roaches. They are pretty hard to stamp out but how should you kill rats and mice? You will often see glue traps set out for rodents which are basically a sticky glue that the mouse walks on, can't escape, and then they starve to death – or are swatted by anyone finding them. But is this hardly humane. So when the People For the Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) found that the New York City police department was laying out glue traps, they suggested the department use more humane methods. The most humane trap is the old fashioned Tom & Jerry type which attracts a mouse with a piece of cheese, and then when the rodent is tempted by it, the trap snaps back, and kills the animal instantly. So the NYPD has now implemented the new old fashioned type of rap. Let's just hope they use cheese and not donuts as bait…
Subway to Hogwarts…
(27 Nov 10)
The latest Harry Potter movie has been taking phenomenal money at the box office, but Hogwarts is impossible to get to as it is fiction… or is it? To take the train to Hogwarts you have to depart from the magical platform 9¾. And this week a sign was spotted on the New York subway system that implied that platform 9¾ could be taken from the 14th Street Union Square subway stop. Along with the different subway lines that are available from that stop – like the R, N, Q, and L lines – there was also a mysterious red sticker showing 9¾. So does the NY city subway system actually run to Hogwarts? The official line is no, and the sign was suspiciously close to a major movie theatre complex, but maybe it really was a direction for those budding wizards in the city. Certainly the subway system is old, quirky and with its foibles, but is having a service to wizard school one of them? Maybe, it is…
Pumpkin pie lover…
(27 Nov 10)
I skipped on the pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving as I honestly don't like it that much, but maybe one of the reasons that it is such a success at Thanksgiving is not about the taste of pumpkin pie, but about what it can do. In new research, men find the smell of pumpkin pie as potent as Viagra! According to Chicago's Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Center it is something to do with pumpkin having a high zinc content. It's hard to say how many ladies will have benefited from the pumpkin pie effect after their men overdosed on the turkey main course, but there could have been some "just desserts"…
Bloomberg for dinner…
(27 Nov 10)
Who would you have liked to spend Thanksgiving with amongst the rich and famous? According to most New Yorkers, not Mayor Michael Bloomberg. A poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found that 56% of city voters don’t want Bloomberg to share the holiday dinner with them, while 42% said they would quite like his company at the table. Republicans were evenly split on whether to invite the mayor over for turkey and stuffing, with 49% saying yes and 49% saying no. (So presumably the other 2% not caring, or not understanding the question.) But a majority of Democratic and independent voters said they'd rather keep it to family and friends. It wasn't much more friendly on gender lines either. 60% of female voters didn’t want the mayor at the table, while 52% of male voters preferred not to break bread with the billionaire. Personally I'd be very open to entertaining the mayor at Thanksgiving. As one of the richest men on the planet, just think what an awesome bottle of wine he would bring…
Gallons per charge…
(27 Nov 10)
The two groundbreaking electric cars go on sale here in the US in the next few weeks. The Chevvy Volt is a petrol / electric hybrid that is electric powered until it runs low on charge, and then a petrol engine kicks in to generate electricity. However the Nissan Leaf is a totally electric car. So how many miles per gallon does it do? Without gallons, how do you judge efficiency? This comes down to an official formula that deems 33.7 kilowatt hours of electricity equivalent to one gallon of petrol. That is still a pretty rough guide as it depends on electricity costs – which vary considerably around the country – plus even if you plug in your car at peak or off-peak times. But as for the Nissan Leaf car, the official number is 99. That's 99 miles per gallon - for a car that doesn't use gallons…
NYC Taxi contest…
(20 Nov 10)
Perhaps the most iconic feature of New York City streets is the yellow taxi cab. They are synonymous with the city and are as much a part of New York is as Central Park or the Empire State Building. Although there are a few models on the road now, the Ford Crown Victoria accounts for the majority of yellow cabs on the street. But for all their iconic charm, they are pretty inefficient, and not very user friendly. So the city has been holding a contest to find the most suitable vehicle to be the next generation of yellow taxi – and all three finalists are pretty removed from the current model. The final three are more London cab style – a higher wheelbase, easier to get in and out of, and more like a small van than traditional car. The three are from Ford, Nissan, and a company called Karsan. As the mayor noted in a presentation this week not one model is perfect, but all three have something going for them – whether that be wi-fi enabled, totally wheelchair accessible, or even having a sunroof! A final decision will be made next year, and the winning model will hit the streets in 2013. So although we're not sure of the make and model yet, we do know the colour. It will be yellow.
One of the proposed new designs!
Appreciating corduroy…
(20 Nov 10)
I do try to keep on top of all events happening in New York City but sometimes key events slip through my line of vision. So I was pretty devastated not to have been aware of a seminal event that took place a week ago in the city. It was the fifth annual meeting of the "Corduroy Appreciation Club". Yes that much maligned fabric that tends to be associated with school teachers of old, and anyone else with a limited sense of style. But the 5th annual Corduroy Appreciation Club met in Manhattan and there was corduroy aplenty on display. Jackets, suits, leggings, waistcoats, hats, and even a bra… a visible one anyway, who knows how many corduroy bras there were hidden under layers of other corduroy…
Smoked out…
(20 Nov 10)
The Federal Government is planning to put graphic images along with straight forward warnings on all cigarette packets starting in 2012. There is still about 20% of the population who smoke in the US, and supposedly every day another 1,000 teenagers become smokers. But how cool is it to smoke? In a plan to get more hip young people hooked on tobacco, the RJ Reynolds company is set to introduce "localized" cigarette brands. The actual cigarettes will be the same wherever they are marketed, but the marketing will be different. Here in New York they are targeting the very artsy, trendy, and hip area of Brooklyn that is Williamsburg. So the packets will feature a stylized image of the neighbourhood, along with the Williamsburg name, which will be sold under the Camel brand. Hopefully the Williamsburg hipsters will see through the Camel hype, and give the brand the hump…
Unholy New York…
(20 Nov 10)
For all its sins, New York is a very safe place to live, but is it very close to God? According to a new survey, definitely not, and a lot worse than the proverbial Sin City of Las Vegas. In the survey by Men's Health Magazine (why THAT magazine?!) New York is ranked #84 in the most devout cities across the nation. The magazine based its rankings on the number of places of worship per capita, the diversity of religious groups and the amount of donations they collect. But New York City has more than 2,000 churches, 1,000 synagogues, and 100 mosques – so how come? The magazine stands by the findings – which puts Las Vegas 25 points above New York. And who was top of the list? Colorado Springs was deemed the Godliest place in the country, whilst maybe even more surprisingly Burlington, VT., was last. Does anything actually happen in Burlington, Vermont to be deemed heathen? Hard to imagine.
Painless paper cuts…
(20 Nov 10)
With all New York City departments feeling the financial pinch these days, the call from Mayor Bloomberg has been to cut back. However one of the most simple instructions he told city workers to do recently was regarding photocopying – use both sides of the paper! Apparently if all city departments print double-sided, then the cost saving on paper would be around US$1 million. A very painless paper cut. Another way that officials will be saving on expenses this year will be on Christmas cards. Yes you can still send them from your department but they have to be free e-cards and no paper ones that require printing, paper, and stamps. They might not look so good on the virtual mantelpiece, but will save the city another US$50,000…
Changing signs…
(16 Oct 10)
What's in a name? Actually there's more in the way it is written. New York City has all its street names in upper case letters. However new federal regulations stipulate that all street signs should be a mix of upper and lower case. So a street name starts with a capital letter, then the rest is lower case - just like normal writing. So this will mean that all street names in the city will have to be replaced in the next few years – at an estimated cost of US$27 million. The city replaces 8,000 signs a year anyway from wear and tear and so some of the replacements will be covered by this budget. Even so, many hard core New Yorkers say that it will change the character of the city…
Is 7 the new 8?
(16 Oct 10)
Some things in New York are almost set in stone. For instance if you are going to a Broadway show, it will start at 8pm. But now there is an almost revolutionary movement to have the entertainment start at 7pm instead! The thinking is that a 7pm start makes sense as it leaves less interval between work and Broadway, and gets you home earlier – or allows a late dinner not being too late. So maybe 7 really is the new 8...
Reward for breaking up…
(16 Oct 10)
A disgruntled music fan – who claims he is acting on behalf of all fans of the band Weezer – is seeking donations to the tune of US$10 million which he would give to the band on the condition that they split up and never record again. James Burns, from Seattle, says that he is tired of successive disappointing albums by Weezer, and so wants the band to call it a day. Amazingly, the band even commented on the idea, which drummer Patrick Wilson saying that they'd consider it for $20 million, and then you get a "deluxe break-up"...
Firefighters go slow…
(9 Oct 10)
One of the typical sights of New York is the fire trucks whizzing by with lights blazing and sirens screaming at all hours of the day and night. Fair enough if there is an emergency to attend to, but what if it's not an obvious emergency? In fact many accidents are caused by fire trucks skipping red lights and speeding to the emergency – even if that crisis is something as lame as a cat up a tree. So for the next 3 months firefighters in parts of Queens will only use sirens and flashing lights – and cross red lights – if it is an emergency. For anything less critical like a fallen tree, then the firefighters will obey red lights, not go speeding, and hush the sirens. Officials say that this will be better for residents, and that the lack of urgency won't affect any critical fire situations at all. Naturally though it won't be half as much fun for the firemen, as speeding through red lights was surely the only reason they signed up.
Restaurant pet hates…
(9 Oct 10)
New Yorkers love their food, and dining out in one of the thousands of different venues is a must when here. But what is the most frustrating thing when out dining at a restaurant? According to the Zagat guide book here, talking on a mobile phone when in a restaurant is the lowest of the low. Checking emails and texting is also frowned upon, but although New Yorkers will tolerate most things in restaurants, overhearing conversations from those locked into their cellphones is the biggest gripe.
e-book pricing…
(9 October 10)
There has been a big fracas over a new Ken Follett book that was widely available cheaper as a hardback than as an e-reader. Amazon was selling the "Fall Of Giants" real book at $19.39 whilst the Kindle e-edition was being sold at $19.99. Consumers cried foul, and accusations flied as to why something virtual was more expensive than something with paper and printing. Publishers claimed that it was not down to e-books being too expensive, but hard back books that are too cheap. Yes, some publishers really do believe in backward logic. Amazon meanwhile noted that it was able to sell books at cut-price, but that e-book pricing was set by the publisher. Case closed.
Justin Beaver…
(9 Oct 10)
One of the biggest names in teen-pop these days is Justin Bieber – the 16 year old "pop sensation"! But move over Bieber, and make way for Justin Beaver Not a singer but, well, a beaver living in the Bronx River – the first spotted there for 3 years. The river has been cleaned up a lot in the last few years, and so when this beaver was spotted in the river, the Bronx Zoo started a competition to name him. Or her. And yes, the overwhelming winner was Justin Beaver.
A beaver - possibly even called Justin
Snakes alive..!
(25 Sep 10)
Something that seems to happen with surprising regularity in the city is that people find snakes in strange places. They are mostly non-venomous and are often the result of keeping a snake as a pet and it growing too big (or long) for it's keeper. But there are native species too and they can crop up in the most unlikely places. Just this last week, a man in the Bronx went to the bathroom in his apartment and found a 1 meter long snake coiled up on his toilet seat. He called the cops and they called animal experts who removed the beastie – which turned out to be a harmless corn snake, which is indigenous to the area. Harmless maybe, but not something you to see snugly coiled on your toilet seat. All the more reason to never go anywhere without a mongoose.
Bed bugs…
(25 Sep 10)
It has become something of an epidemic. One which has become the scourge of the city. Bedbugs. They are tiny – around the size of an apple seed – but have become a problem affecting at least 1 in 15 of all New Yorkers if we are to believe statistics just out. They don't only reside in mattresses (although that is their fave location) nor do they need a grubby abode either. You can have the most pristine apartment and still be afflicted by them. Earlier this year there were embarrassing infestations at the prestigious Abercrombie & Fitch store, Victoria's Secret (no 'ants in your pants' jokes please), the AMC movie theatre on 42nd Street, and even the Empire State Building. Hotels are increasingly nervous too, as they can easily be brought into the building on clothing or luggage. Bedbugs were almost eradicated completely last century with the use of DDT, but have crept back into the city ever since. Mayor Bloomberg has declared war on them, but they aren't about to pack up and leave the city any time soon. It's great business for exterminators, but a lousy time for anyone stricken by the bedbug plague. Start scratching…
No butts on the beach…
(18 Sep 10)
There will be fewer butts in the city parks and on the beaches here. Cigarette butts that is. Mayor Bloomberg announced an extension to the no smoking ban that covers bars, restaurants, and city buildings to also include beaches and parks. One of the mayor's first initiatives in the city back in 2002 was for the bars and restaurant smoking ban – something that was controversial at the time, and yet has been mirrored in many other cities around the world since. Banning smoking in parks is a harder concept to sell and a tricky one to enforce, but as the mayor himself noted, fresh air in the open air should be a right for all New Yorkers.
No new news…
(18 Sep 10)
I'm finding myself more in the minority digesting news these days. I am one of the few who does still read a paper newspaper every day but the number of Americans who regularly read the print edition of a newspaper is continuing to decline, even though more people are seeking out news coverage in general. In a new survey just out the percentage of daily print newspaper readers decreased from 38% in 2006 to just 26% this year. Predictably enough, more people than ever are getting their news online from email, social networks, podcasts or via mobile devices every day. That compares with 39% of Americans who regularly watch the news on TV. Or at least admit to it.
Bike valet parking…
(18 Sep 10)
I've mentioned before the move towards encouraging cyclists in the city, and measures to make biking easier around town. That has been a Bloomberg policy over the last few years, and resulted in an increasing number of bike lanes throughout the city. Bike parking however hasn't increased at the same rate. Yes there are racks and stands in some places, but never really enough - just like car parking in that respect. When going to gigs I've often gone by bike, but for the Broadway theatre crowd, there is now another option to chaining your bike up on a lamp post. A cycling-advocacy group has just started a bicycle-valet service. So now you can drop your bike off with an attendant at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square and get free, locked-up parking until the final curtain. So far it's a temporary weekend arrangement that will run through till the end of September, but if successful, could be reintroduced next year.
iSwap CDs…
(18 Sep 10)
Having played music for goodness knows how many years, I have a lot of CDs, and every so often I will throw a few out - to charity, rather than just in the trash. But an enterprising company in Queens is swapping old CDs for iPods, iPads, and iPhones. The iPodMeister.com site has been going since 2004 and it's a straight swap of CDs and DVDs for Apple merchandise. There are some rules though. Although all genres of discs are accepted, they can't be scratched, or be porn, copies, promotional discs, or be 20 copies of your own band's magnum opus. As for the exchange rate, an 8gig iPod nano will cost you 199 CDs, the latest iPhone 4 will set you back 499 discs, whilst a top of the line iPad can be yours for 1200 discs. Finally a use for all those dusty Justin Bieber CDs.
New York taxi lowdown…
(11 Sep 10)
One of the things you will always see in New York City are yellow taxi cabs. Usually the bulk standard Toyota Crown ugly vehicle, but more and more hybrids are entering the market too. However in a new survey just out, NYC cabbies score both high and low. They get high marks for knowing their way around the city but are also considered the rudest and scariest drivers in the US. When stacked up against 49 other cities, New York was deemed the easiest place to hail a cab, but 39% said New York drivers are, by far, the most reckless behind the wheel. I think it's all down to a sense of adventure…
Plastic off the menu…
(11 Sep 10)
You would think that the US is the credit card capital of the world. And for many things it is, however more and more restaurants in New York City are turning their back on plastic and turning to cash-only. These are still tough economic times, and so giving between 3% and 5% of your gross income to the credit card companies makes some restaurateurs balk. Yes you will see on the door, window, or even on the menu whether a venue is cash or credit based, and most of the time most of the people will be happy with a different method of payment. However for those who don't have enough cash, a trip to the nearest ATM might incur a surcharge of up to USD$4. So is that just shifting the balance of payment from restaurant owner to restaurant customer? Probably, but as everyone is feeling the pinch, maybe that's the only way to go. The cash-less society may be getting closer in many cities and countries, but for New York, cash is still king.
The Brooklyn forest…
(4 Sep 10)
One of the things you have to do when visiting New York, is walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. Not only is it a piece of history, but on a good day, the views are amazing. However sustaining the bridge is another thing. It is a road bridge too, and there are ongoing repairs and renovations from the weight of traffic – literally – but also for the passenger walkway too. That is comprised of 11,000 wooden planks on metal supports, and after millions of feet – and hundreds of thousands of bike tyres too – those boards do wear out. Wanting the most hardwearing boards, that means sourcing tropical hardwoods, but that's not being very ecologically green. So now a group of architects is looking at growing its own hardwoods for the bridge. The renewable forest wouldn't be in New York but in some tropical country instead – where space is less limited and the weather better for growing trees. And to pay for it? Probably soliciting donations from people who would like their name emblazoned on one of the planks. The idea of having your name on city features is not new either – you can already buy yourself a bench in Central Park.
From my most recent walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.
The price of a bagel…
(4 Sep 10)
The bagel. That ubiquitous round unleavened donut which so many locals would have with a smear of cream cheese for breakfast. It's as quintessential a New York item as yellow cabs and Central Park. But how much is a bagel? Naturally they vary depending on plain, seeded, or flavoured. However in a new drive to increase tax revenue for the state, tax officials are starting to enforce a long ignored state law that a sliced bagel is subject to sales tax, where as an unsliced bagel is not. It's the slight differentiation between prepared food which is taxed, and basic foodstuffs which are not. So if you are really saving your pennies, get your bagels whole and then slice and fill them at home. You might save up to 8% on your breakfast!
Fewer Americans…
(4 Sep 10)
So what happens in a financial downturn? People have fewer babies. And in new statistics just out, births in the US in 2009 dropped for the second year in succession – 2.6% less last year. Now the birthrate has fallen to the lowest level in at least half a century. Experts put it down to the recession – less money around, less money to think about babies. In total, there were about 4,136,000 births in 2009, and apparently that now equates to 13.5 new babies for every 1000 people.
Solar powered bike rental…
(4 Sep 10)
The number of bikes in the city increases every year, and it is something that the city is actively promoting – which, as a cyclist, I appreciate. New York City is also looking into ways of having easy bike rental too. It's been tried in many cities in Europe, and some in the US too, but the idea of picking up a bike one place, swiping your credit card as security, and then dropping it off somewhere else is a really cool idea. And now a company will be trying that out on Roosevelt Island – that's the island in the East River between Queens and Manhattan – and making it an even greener option by having the bike kiosks as solar powered! They wouldn't be manned, and the bikes themselves won't be solar powered, but it will allow the kiosks to be sited anywhere on the island for cyclists to use. There's be a flat fee of US$5 for up to one day, or you could chose a yearly option to use as many times as you want for US$65. If the bike sharing scheme works well there, then the city will take tenders for a more widespread scheme in Manhattan later on.
Empire State contender…
(28 Aug 10)
I've noted below how the Empire State Building is getting a new energy efficient make-over, but there is trouble brewing at a new building that could encroach on the famous building's vista. Just a few blocks away, a new skyscraper is being planned that would soar up to 1,216 feet – a mere 34 feet shorter than the Empire State Building. City planners have approved the building, and Mayor Bloomberg has fully endorsed it. However owners of the Empire State Building say it is simply too close to their iconic structure and have begged that it be either shorter or further away – lest it ruin the city skyline. City planners say no. Although some planners have called the building "elegant", to me it looks like a sore thumb next to the 30's grace of the Empire State Building.
The imposter - as portrayed by the ESB owners
Talking New Yorkers…
(28 Aug 10)
One of the traits that New Yorkers have is that they love to talk. However in new statistics just out, New Yorkers use their mobile phones a lot less than many other states of the Union, and when they do talk, speak for shorter times too. The average New Yorker uses his or her cellphone for 713 minutes per month – which puts it down in a lowly 15th place for the number of minutes spoken per month. By contrast, residents of Georgia speak for over 800 minutes per month. And when New Yorkers do use their cellphone here, they average only 3.7 minutes each time. This could be partly as New Yorkers don't have so much time to yak, or perhaps as there is no cellphone coverage in the subway system. The one thing that is the same across the country is the gender split. Almost universally in all states, women talk on their mobile phone around 22% more than men do.
Lost and found…
(28 Aug 10)
I never got into the whole "Lost" TV phenomenon, and now it has finished once and for all, I still couldn't tell you what went on, who got off the island, or what the series finale was all about. But the series did have a huge following, and those fans have been hitting the auction rooms as props and artifacts from the series went under the block last week. A copy of "Watership Down" that was read on the series went for US$3,000, an original script was sold for US$18,000 whilst a set of water bottles seen in the very first episode and branded with the "Oceanic Airlines" logo, was a steal at US$1,650. Unfortunately for "Lost" fans, some of the prime items were already removed by the actors in the series, whilst others were, well, lost.
Walk safe…
(21 Aug 10)
New York is a pretty safe city – one of the most crime-free in the country – however it is still a risky place for pedestrians. There are thousands of accidents involving pedestrians each year, and so this week the Mayor and his team vowed to make the city streets safer. The Department Of Transport will be looking at 60 miles of city streets every year, and trying to find ways to make them safer. Intersections will be examined for safer ways to cross, and there will be more countdown clocks on the pedestrian stop / go signs – so that pedestrians know how long they will have to wait before they can cross the road safely. But will those countdown clocks actually make a difference? For notoriously impatient New Yorkers… perhaps.
Green Empire…
(21 Aug 10)
The Empire State Building is probably the most iconic building in the city. Perhaps not the most beautiful (I'd say the Chrysler Building took the honours there) but it is the tallest, and most famous. And slowly but surely, it is becoming one of the most green in New York too. It is in the middle of a half billion dollar renovation to make it ultra energy efficient. And most of that revolves around the windows. But that's not a matter of taking the old ones out and replacing them with new ones – that wouldn't be very green – but instead taking them out, one by one, and then covering them in different chemical films, before baking them in an oven to form a perfect seal. Then they are re-installed. There are 6,514 windows that must be replaced, but the benefits will be big time energy efficiency savings which will pay for themselves over time. It may take a while, but as the building has been there since 1931 and isn't planning on going anywhere any time soon, that's probably a wise - and green - investment.
Still no subway cells…
(21 Aug 10)
The New York Subway system is different to Hong Kong and many other transit systems in several ways: it's older, more decrepit, less efficient, and there is no mobile phone coverage in the tunnels or on the trains within the underground sections. A new project to get wireless and cell-phone coverage in the subway was approved back in 2007, but failed to go ahead due to budget problems. But now the stalled plan to provide cellular and Wi-Fi service in all 277 underground subway stations is back on track. A company will soon start work on wiring stations so riders can make calls and send texts during everyday travels. And bring the subway into the 20th century. Improvements for the 21st century will have to wait a little longer.
Spiderman on Broadway…
(14 Aug 10)
Although residents do head to Broadway to see shows, visitors to New York are more likely to spend big bucks heading to see a show. And one of the big attractions this autumn will be the stage version of "Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark". And it's a musical too… though how spidey will sing through his mask I'm not so sure. It is set to be the most expensive musical in Broadway history, with a billed price of around $50 million. Flying and dance rehearsals began last month, whilst the general cast will be assembling for the first time later this month. Previews for the show begin in November, whilst the grand opening is just before Christmas. There is the bonus attraction of the music being written and supplied by Bono and The Edge. So now we know where the $50 million budget went…
Pop tart haven…
(14 Aug 10)
Times Square in the 70's was a den of iniquity and porn. These days it is more like a family theme park. One of the breakfast institutions in the USA (one which surely has an effect on the health and obesity problem in this country) is the phenomenon of Pop Tarts. Heavily sugary, insanely artificial, and only notionally fruity goo-fests, that you pop in the toaster and have with your morning coffee. And as of this week there is a Pop Tarts World based in Times Square. There are plenty of other sweet selections in Times Square to choose from as well – including a Hershey's store, and an M&M venue too. But at Pop Tarts World however they strive to deliver something different – including the unique Pop Tarts Sushi. But don't worry, there's not an ounce of healthy fish in there…
The real NYC treasure hunt…
(7 Aug 10)
If you are smart, and are good at sleuthing and cracking clues, then you could find US$10,000 in buried treasure somewhere in New York City. Two Brooklyn puppeteers say they have buried a treasure chest filled with 10,000 $1 coins somewhere in the city, and it's waiting for whoever cracks the clues in their swashbuckling series of online videos. The treasure hunt began Sunday when they posted the first of eight videos on the website welostourgold.com. The videos follow a crew of pirate puppets. Each short contains clues pointing to where to dig up the real treasure. The organizers request that people don't just start digging up the city randomly hoping to strike gold – nor looking at the end of a rainbow come to think of it – as apparently when you have found the treasure, you will know it. Obviously.
241 ballerina record…
(7 Aug 10)
So New York City didn't break the record for the hottest July on record, however there was a rather different record broken in Central Park on Monday this week. 241 ballerinas converged in the park to stand "en pointe" together for one minute. That is (I believe) standing on the tippy toes of both feet at once with your hands on your waist. And yes, that is apparently a world record.
Naked Cowboy gets competition…
(31 Jul 10)
In Hong Kong you have Melvis in Lan Kwai Fong. Here in New York we have the Naked Cowboy in Times Square. He's not quite naked (he does wear tighty whities) but otherwise is much the same. He'll strum you a song and you can get photographed with him – and perhaps give him a tip afterwards. But now, the Naked Cowboy has competition from "The Naked Cowgirl"! She is a bawdy, bikini-clad female busker and he says that she is ripping off his income, and so is threatening to sue her. The cowgirl is a fixture of the city comedy scene and a former stripper famous for closing her act by lighting her breasts on fire. So who would you like to be photographed with most?
Mr Softee feels the heat…
(31 Jul 10)
Yes it's been a sweltering summer so far, and so people have headed to the parks, beaches, swimming pools – or maybe stayed at home in air-con-land. So with rising mercury you'd imagine that New Yorkers would be grasping for ice cream, frozen yogurt and iced coffees and teas -- anything that would keep them cool. But it may actually be too hot for ice cream! According to Peter Bouzio, the manager for the Mr. Softee ice cream trucks in New York City, people simply aren't out buying ice cream. So it's either the heat, or that ultra-annoying jingle the trucks insist on playing around the neighbourhood…
Man Men party…
(31 Jul 10)
For hardened TV aficionados, last Sunday was a big day with the season 4 premiere of 'Mad Men' on TV. The tales of Don Draper and the 60's Madison Avenue advertising execs has been a great success both commercially and critically. To celebrate the event, the first programme in the new season was screened live in Times Square – with many avid viewers arriving in period 60's dress and show star Elizabeth Moss hosting the event. I'll have to wait a little longer – as I've not even started season 3 on DVD yet!
New York toilets among the best…
(31 Jul 10)
It can be pretty tough to find a good toilet in New York City. There are remarkably few public restrooms, and most restaurants and bars only have their washrooms for customers. But in a new survey just out, New York City does indeed have some of the best toilets in the country. A toilet supply company announced that the restrooms at Bryant Park and also in the Muse Hotel were among the 10 finalists in its “America’s Best Restroom” competition. The Bryant Park restroom – which is a public restroom - was noted for its “full-time attendant, fresh cut flowers, scented oils and electronic seat covers.” And I have been there, and do remember that it made an impression – though I don't remember all those features! Anyway, the national winner will be announced in September.
Wanted: the real Cinderella…
(10 Jul 10)
New York City might seem like a big fairytale at the best of times, but sometimes truth can mirror fiction. A man has posted various online ads in the city looking for the owner of a shoe… not any old shoe either, but the other half of an US$800 Christian Louboutin heel. Moshe Billet found the right-footed pump with a 4 inch heel on the street, and assumed that the owner would like it back. It is an open-toed heel, in a European-sized 39 shoe, and was lost near the intersection of 96thSt. and Broadway on the Upper West Side. The man doesn't expect a reward, but would need the owner to bring the other show with her (assuming it is a her), so that ownership could be confirmed. But 10 days on, nobody has owned up to the missing shoe. Perhaps the New York City Cinderella is too busy sweeping the floors and attending to the needs of her ugly sisters to come down and pick it up. But if you do see a horse and carriage – with the carriage shaped like a super large pumpkin – then that might be a clue…
Facebook addiction…
(10 Jul 10)
How addictive is Facebook? According to a new survey here, very, and with women in particular. 39% of women aged 18-34 are now self-proclaimed Facebook addicts, 34% say checking Facebook is the first thing they do in the morning - even before brushing their teeth or using the bathroom, whilst 57% say they talk to people online more than they do face-to-face. More strangely, 46% say it's okay to be Facebook friends with someone they don't actually like in real life…
4th and 5th of July…
(10 Jul 10)
The 4th July weekend is a huge holiday weekend here in the US, but for many countries the July 5th is rather more important. It is independence day in Algeria, Cape Verde, and Venezuela. July 5th was also the day when Spam was first introduced into the market (luncheon meat not the internet variety) back in 1937. Also Dolly the cloned sheep was born on July 5th 1996. Arthur Ashe became the first African American to win Wimbledon in 1975, but perhaps most of all, we should be celebrating 5th July for what French fashion designer Louis Reard unleashed on the world on that day in 1946. It was named after the Atomic bomb test that had just happened in the Pacific, but this was an explosive twin-piece of fashion that the world could hardly have done without since… the bikini!
Love on the "L"…
(3 Jul 10)
The New York City subway system is divided into routes with numbers and routes with letters. But the L line is where you find lurve! Using the often porn-laden CraigsList site as a reference, more people were looking for love on the L train, than on any other line on the system, as per a new survey just out. The hottest subway spots for "Missed Connections" postings (where readers try to reconnect with someone they may have seen in a fleeting moment) are indeed on the L line. More than the N, , A, 4, 6, or any other subway line. The line goes from Manhattan through the trendiest parts of Brooklyn and it seems that it a potent mix for those looking for lurve. Or conversely a symbol of those who can't find it…
Topless in Asbury Park…
(3 Jul 10)
One of the musical pilgrimage places in the New York area is Asbury Park – the place where Bruce Springsteen came from and made famous. Actually on the New Jersey coast, it is a beach town, and could soon be going topless! Although it may sound archaic to others around the world, there are only some places in the area that you can sunbath topless. In New York, every beach in the state is legally a topless beach after a 1992 ruling from the state's highest court threw out a law that made it illegal for women to take their shirts off in public. Not the same in New Jersey. So New Jersey topless advocates are looking to change that status. Women there are as beautiful as in other countries where topless-ness is allowed, they claim, so why can't it be allowed in Asbury Park? Fair enough, but I've seen those women featured on "The Real Housewives Of New Jersey". Equally beautiful yes, but undoubtedly more crazy…
Cat woman strikes…
(3 Jul 10)
You might think that Cat Woman only exists in Batman, but not so. A female thief has been doing the rounds in New York City in the last couple of weeks – with a cat Woman mask. She hit a high end shoe shop in Manhattan first, and then a beauty store in Queens after that. Police described her as 5-foot-6, 115 pounds, armed, possibly Middle Eastern, and dressed with a cat mask on. Though no tail between her legs…
The fitting sponsor…
(3 Jul 10)
One of the things to experience on July 4th is the famed hot dog eating championship at Nathan's at Coney Island. It's a prime example of speed-eating gluttony and is known all over the world. Held since 1916, the hog-dog eating contest is an iconic summer ritual with thousands of spectators watching heavyweight contestants scoff as many hot dogs as they can in just 10 minutes. It is even televised on ESPN – as a sport! The contest does have an official condiment provider in Heinz, but this year it will also have another sponsor – the stomach settling relief pills Pepto-Bismol! Apparently competitive eaters have been using it for years – but would it really make that much difference if you had consumed 60 dogs in 10 minutes?
The iGrab…
(3 Jul 10)
Even though many are still to be swayed by its use, the Apple iPad is a hit – especially with thieves. There has been a string of robberies of the new gizmo, even before they reach the Apple store. Thieves are targeting deliveries of the iPad at the Apple store on the Upper West Side. The first incident happened last week when an unsuspecting delivery driver was stacking boxes outside of his truck, when a man approached and grabbed a box containing five iPads. Two days later the same thing happened again – though seemingly with a different thief. The gadgets are so hot that even the sales team in the store don't know when the deliveries will be. So is it a deep inside job, or just i-opportunists who like the idea of selling off a $500 tablet to cut-price Apple fans…
Wall Street sold…
(26 June 10)
Along with the perennial question "how long is a piece of string" is the equally unanswerable question "how much is Wall Street?" Until now. As the answer is US$116,500. Which may not seem much for one of the biggest banking centers in the world, but that price is just for the street sign! A vintage street sign that once marked an intersection on Wall Street near the New York Stock Exchange has just been sold at auction. It has “Broad St.” in one direction and “Wall St.” in the other.
The sign went up in the late 19th century and probably came down sometime in the 1920's. So Wall Street costs US$116,500 – and you get Broad Street into the bargain too!
60 Pianos…
(26 June 10)
As part of a public art "installation" (and I still don't like that word for art – it should really be reserved for kitchen cabinets or plumbing) there are now 60 pianos in New York's parks and public spaces – free to be played by anyone passing by. British artist Luke Jerram is behind the keyboard bonanza, with help from the "Sing for Hope" non-profit organization and the mayor's office. The upright pianos were bought on the cheap and are chained to heavy cinder blocks - just in case someone decides to try to take one home. Everyone is encouraged to tinkle the ivories, and then once the fun is over, the pianos will be donated to worthy causes.
www.nystreetpianos.com for more information.
Blame it on train…
(19 June 10)
Most of the city is at the behest of the subway system for getting to and from work. And with much of the system 100 years old, it does break down and create delays on a daily basis. So if you are late for work, the obvious excuse is because the subway had delays - an excuse that many would use even if they couldn't get out of bed in that morning! But soon, the subway system will offer instant verification on whether that subway delay claim at work was real or bogus. Last week, the MTA (the authority that runs the transport here) unveiled a revised part of its website that can provide commuters an official verification of a train delay. The old system could take weeks to get an official verification – and by that time, your boss might have fired you for slacking. But the revised site will allow instant verification on delays. It's like getting an online doctor's note for the sick subway system.
More ferries..?
(19 June 10)
Manhattan is an island. Obviously. And a very nice boat trip it is sailing around the whole island too, but one thing that is fairly surprising is that there are remarkably few ferries shuttling from the boroughs and New Jersey to Manhattan. Yes there is the famous Staten Island ferry, and there is even a ferry (or water taxi as they are often known here) from Manhattan to the nearest branch of IKEA in Brooklyn, but very few commuter ferries that work the whole year round. Why? Well that's something that is being pondered more by mass transit officials at the moment. It's partly as other public transport interchanges – like Penn Station or Grand Central Station - are quite a bit inland from the watery side of Manhattan. But ferries are a growth opportunity. To add new routes, you don’t need to dig a tunnel, lay a track, build bridges or add lanes. So will there be integrated ferries added to the transport infrastructure here in the years ahead? Possibly, and that is certainly one option being looked into by city planners.
Texting at the movies...
(19 June 10)
One of the most annoying things when at the movies is having that phone go off, or hearing that text message peep. However in collaboration with Universal pictures, a local store here is actively encouraging users to text whilst watching the flick. The Best Buy company is giving away a smartphone app released in connection with the movie “Despicable Me” next month. The app - called the Minionator - translates the gibberish words of one of the movie characters and sends them to your mobile phone. In theaters, this will work only during the closing credits, but when watching a Blu-ray disc at home, users can translate lines throughout the movie. The app has infuriated many who feel that ANY sort of phone usage during a movie is too much, and so the app tries to appease those people by turning off the phone’s ringer and dimming the screen. It will still vibrate however. Ideal for 'adult movies' then…
Trying to spend $100...
(19 June 10)
It's easy – far too easy – to spend money. However there are ways to spend less here in New York – by using bigger denominations of banknotes. Usually at ATMs and banks you will get $20 or perhaps $50, but never $100 bills. And in fact, 100's are quite rare – mostly because shops are very reluctant to take them. Even though many restaurants might be 'cash only' they will draw the line at anything over $50. More of the $100's are counterfeited and so shops won't take the risk on such a relatively large denomination. But must they be accepted by law? Actually no. According to the Department of the Treasury's website, businesses "may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy." So if you are on a budget and need a good reason to be more thrifty, take out a few 100's and you may still come home with them afterwards!
Crime & punishment…
(19 June 10)
The rate of some crimes in the city of New York has been on the up this last year, but any prevailing sense of lawlessness is still very low. And NYC remains one of the safest big cities in the country. And in fact new stats just out show that the NY prison population is at an almost record low. Fewer inmates are behind bars in New York on any given day than at any time in the past 24 years, and the number admitted to the city’s jail system has fallen below 100,000 for the first time since 1987. While the plunge in the city’s crime rate has undoubtedly been a critical factor, a number of other large cities where crime has also fallen have not seen a parallel drop in their jail population. Instead, steps taken by the city, including special courts to deal with nonviolent offenders and programs to deter former convicts from returning to jail, appear to be working. So that's more fines and less jail time. And that's a double whammy for the city and state – as the daily cost of housing one prison inmate for one day is over $200. And so fewer inmates saves the state a whole lot of dosh.
Too sexy to work…
(5 Jun 10)
One of the hottest tabloid stories recently was about the woman fired from her job because – allegedly – she was too sexy! Debrahlee Lorenzana, 33, who the tabloid papers described as "dangerously curvy", claims that her bosses at Citigroup fired her for flaunting her ample assets at a midtown bank and that she was "too distracting" for other employees. The woman says that the bank told her to dress for frumpily because her pencil skirts and clingy clothes were drawing too much attention in the workplace. Her lawsuit claims that she was moved to an out-of-the-way spot in the office first, and then a month later, was fired. The bank disputes the claim and says that the woman was let go due to her work performance and not her appearance. Toxic assets for sure. Watch the TV interview and you decide.
(You can also play "spot the nipple".)
Bye to the V and W…
(5 June 10)
As part of the cost cutting measures on the New York City Transit system, two subway lines are being cut - or actually being consolidated into other subway lines. So as of the end of June, the W line and the V line will be no more. But to change the system in this way is a monumental process. With 468 stations, maps will have to be replaced on all those – many times over – plus on the trains, and on all the platforms that service the V or W lines too. In total, some 3,000 signs and 25,000 maps will be switched within the span of about two weeks before the service changes take effect at the end of the month.
Scary posters…
(5 June 10)
Like many cities and countries around the world, New York tries to stop people from smoking. One of the current campaigns is based around a set of pretty scary posters that show the harmful effects of smoking – cancer-ravaged lungs, a decaying tooth and a stroke-crippled brain with the simple message "Quit Smoking Now." These posters have to be placed near the cash register anywhere where cigarettes are sold in the city – by law. New York is the only city in the country to take such an approach with such a visual impact. And naturally, some people are fuming – most obviously noticeably the big tobacco companies. So those big companies are now funding a federal suit that says the ads are unconstitutional. Not because they are untruthful (that part is hard to wriggle out of) but instead that a city shouldn't be allowed to describe its own health warnings – that duty should be only on a federal level, country wide. They have also got some small support from shop owners that sell cigarettes who say that the gory posters upset people who aren't even coming in to buy cigarettes. Acceptable collateral damage perhaps.
Twitterer post…
(5 June 10)
A good job vacancy for geeks: The Mayor's office here is looking for a twitterer. Officially, the city is looking to hire a chief digital officer who could unify the city’s efforts to communicate via social media and online. It could also pay up to US$125,000 per year – depending on your level of geekdom.
New city park…
(17 Apr 10)
Good news for green spaces this week. I've mentioned before the wonderful island between the southern tip of Manhattan and Brooklyn called Governors Island. It was an old coastguard station, and since it was opened up to the public for parts of the summer 6 years ago, it's been one of those little known secrets of the city. Many of the houses are really old style from maybe 100 years ago, and now you can cycle all the way around it. It had been under the remit of the state of NY, but this week the deal was done that the city would be looking after it in future and would become an official city park. The City generally has slightly better finances than the state, and so this ensures a better future for it – one that will include some development, but also that will enable that this awesome summer oasis will continue as this hidden green gem - but please, don't tell anyone about it.
Good time for dogs…
(17 Apr 10)
“There’s never been a better time to be a dog in New York City.” Those were the words from Mayor Michael Bloomberg this week, with the news that the percentage of dogs and cats put to death at the city’s shelters hit an all-time low last year. Not only that, but the adoption rate for shelter pets increased from the year before. The good news came at the same time as the A.S.P.C.A. handed over a US$1 million grant to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals - a coalition of more than 160 animal rescue groups and shelters in the city. The money will be used to increase the numbers of adoptions and to provide free neutering services to low-income pet owners. But any dog or cat euthanized is one too many – and even with the drop in numbers, over 13,000 animals were put to sleep in 2009.
Adams family failure?
(17 Apr 10)
Shows on Broadway come and go, but many are a gamble on whether they will pay off or not. It is really expensive to put on a show, and so they usually need long runs with full houses to make them break even. There's a Spiderman show in production, but one show that had been tried out in Chicago and moved here last week was a new production of the Adams Family. Yes, that classic cartoon turned TV show, turned movie, now turned stage show. And with a strong cast and a lot of popular appeal, then it should work – right? Not according to the critics who universally panned the production the day after it opened. Not funny, not spooky, and when the actors burst into song… well, it just doesn't work. It cost about US$17 million to put on, and advance ticket sales are already over 15 million bucks, so it will be a success – even if most of the critics pass on the weird synergy of horror and singingalong styles…
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