U2's (Temporary) Street

Photograph of Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen, with Mayor Bloomberg (far left) and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (far right) by Mary Altaffer/AP

It's official: The city deemed part of West 53rd Street U2 Way, coincidentally timed with the release of the group's latest album. U2's members helped make sure the street was clear of snow yesterday and noted how they were honored with this temporary distinction (it'll last a week, as they'll promote their music for NYC for about that long). Bono said, "The Beatles had Penny Lane, Elvis lived on the end of Lonely Street. We're here somewhere between 10th Avenue and funky, funky Broadway, somewhere south of Duke Ellington Way and north of Joey Ramone Place we find ourselves ... where the streets have no name." He added, "New York is a place that people come to [and] feel at home. And we truly do feel at home here in New York."

Mayor Bloomberg also got in a U2 song-title-pun: "It's a beautiful day, to quote a famous Irish rock band. Everyone in this city, including me, considers these four Dubliners honorary New Yorkers." U2 Way is on West 53rd between Broadway and 8th Avenue—which is just east of... Jerry Orbach Way (the sign is on the southwest corner), named after the great Broadway and Law & Order actor!

U2 is the resident band playing the Late Show with David Letterman this week; they'll end things with a concert on Friday at Fordham.

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By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on March 3, 2009 5:40 PM

Comments [rss]

Clarice City

How long before some drunk tourist takes it home with them as a souvenir?

Clarice City

temporary indeed.

butttah

Thank goodness this is temporary.

everyAframe

Bono: you're famous. we've noticed you. you exist. now reel it in, for chrissakes.

JRod5417

Their new song is awful, like Velvet Revolver redux.

whitecastlerock

How much money was spent creating these signs? How much money was spent installing them? I thought we were supposed to be fiscally responsible-dedicating a street to a band is lame and uncalled for. I sure hope this doesn't impede the flow of taxpayer money for the new Yankee Stadium.....

infotron1000

Fuck Bloomberg

Qraymond

Larry Mullen standing next to Speaker Quinn is definitely the surreal image of the day.

And yes, the U2 song puns are unbearable. If I hear "One" more, my eyes are going to "Pop" out of my head like that time "I Threw a Brick Through a Window".

I see you googling that last one...

Offbalance

REJOICE!!!

jibbly

Stay far away.

So close.

Felix Hoenikker

Is that all?

longacre

Man, remember when U2 was good?

No.

babyhitler

Man, remember when U2 was good? This band needs to die in a plane crash soon so they stop fucking up their legacy. Is this what would happen to the beatles if Lennon was still alive? I got to put on NEW YEARS DAY now to flush out all their new shit

NannyState

It all ended so horribly with Zooropa. In some arena in texas, there's still a atupid Trabant hanging from the rafters...

Bongo23

Finally! Words of wisdom on this. Screw U2, screw Bongo. Why all this brown nosing?

Obligatory clip of New Order calling Bono, Bongo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRMmP6u1lXM at the 8:20 mark

Felix Hoenikker

Bono will always be number 2.

Guest

Thank you for the South Park reference. I was going to do it if no one else did.

calcetines

Wow, this is dumb.

gimme

bloomberg, take bono's cock out of your mouth please

snuggie

for cringe inducing...forget bono, where the hell does bloomie get off saying every new yorker considers them honorary new yorkers.??

chuzzlewit

great stuff bono - wait, aren't those huey lewis lyrics?

jibbly

I love U2, but why does Bono have to say cringe inducing things like "...funky, funky Broadway..."

Oy, sadly they'll still get my $20 or however much CDs cost these days.

BootyInMyEye

Not sure how long this will last for but it's currently available for download at amazon for $3.99.

http://www.amazon.com/No-Line-On-The-Horizon/dp/B001S6HZTE/ref=sr_f3_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1236284357&sr=103-1