Never has the Post's use of the word "bushwhacked" (and "snatching," for that matter) seemed more appropriate. The paper colorfully reports that the pubic-hair dye company, Betty Beauty (as seen in the NYC subway system), is claiming a "rival stole its trademarked, thong-shaped logo." They add that this rival, Smart Beauty US, also took "copyrighted content from the company's instruction sheet," and now "The Manhattan federal court suit seeks all profits from the alleged below-the-belt behavior." The company may refer to Lindsay Lohan as “fire crotch” in their press releases (seriously), but they're all business about their favorite color: green (incidentally, their green holiday hair dye is still available).
"Down There" Hair Dye Company Wants More Green
Bagel Prices Ballooning Across New York
“It’s horrible. I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Arye Lewkowitz, owner of Daniel’s Bagels on Third Avenue, recently told Metro. “We’re going to have to sell a bagel for over $1.” Lewkowitz isn’t alone; bagel and bread prices are soaring nationwide due to the skyrocketing cost of wheat, which more than doubled in the past year in New York, from $5.31 a bushel to $14.22.
Extra, Extra
- Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a missing patient at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, a car vs. overpass on Kings Highway in Brooklyn, and a truck explosion on 64th Rd. and 108th St. in Queens.
- A sharp-sighted deckhand on a Staten Island Ferry spotted a pistol sticking out of the pocket of a dim-witted passenger snoozing on a Sunday morning ferry. The passenger, who was arrested, had a long record of criminal weapons possessions.
- The wife of the slain orthodontist Daniel Malakov previously met with a political consultant to plan a custody protest with her daughter in front of the White House. She gave up her plan when advised that "nobody would care."
- Lindsay Lohan is reportedly looking to rejuvenate her image by appearing as the assistant manager at a fast-food restaurant on the television series "Ugly Betty."
- Strip-club Scores is sponsoring a food drive with collected food dedicated to City Harvest called "Cans for Cans." Club customers will gain free admission with a printed-out copy of the promotion from the business' web site and a donated can of food.
- A very interesting look at how pidgin Gaelic by Irish newcomers to NYC shaped modern American slang.
- Community Board 10 will be holding a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of 125th St. on November 14th.
- Bomb scare at Laguardia airport.
Times Weddings Highlights: As Seen on TV
There have been a few ads in the NY Times weddings section that spoof the real wedding announcements. For instance, we believe we recall a few for divorce services, but less ironically, there have been ads for marriage-related movies, like The Starter Wife. And this week, there's an ad for an upcoming wedding on the ABC comedy Ugly Betty. Of course, the ad is a lot wordier than the usual NY Times wedding announcement, but any mention of Wilhemina assistant Marc St. James is worth the extra ink.
Eat this Weekend: The Atlantic Antic Festival
On tap for this year’s 33rd Annual Atlantic Antic festival, taking this Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM (rain or shine, buddy) is the usual bonanza of pony rides, live music, and balloon animals. This year’s Antic has an added emphasis on food, which should hopefully make it a remedy to all the street fair food fatigue that’s been going around recently.
59th Emmy Award: Mob Scene Wrap-up
Last night the 59th Annual Emmy Awards took place on the left coast, but New Yorkers made out very well. New York productions/creative types that took home the gold: Late Night with Conan O'Brien (writing), The Daily Show (variety-comedy show series), 30 Rock (best comedy), and Dick Wolf (for producing Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee). In the would-have-been arena, America Ferrera won best actress in a comedy, Ugly Betty, which was originally supposed to shoot in the Big Apple but shoots in L.A. because it's cheaper. We'll also count Rob Marshall, who won for directing the Best Variety-Musical Special, Tony Bennett: An American Classic, since he has Broadway roots.
RIP Betty Matas: Cross Country Cab Passenger
Betty Matas passed away in Arizona Monday after battling kidney and heart problems. She was 75 years old. Matas and her husband Bob captured the interest of many New Yorkers back in April, when the couple decided to make their move from Forest Hills, Queens to Sedona, Arizona in a taxi. Their driver was Douglas Guldeniz, a taxi driver from Turkey they met a few weeks earlier when returning from Manhattan to their home in Queens. As they made that first trip, Guldeniz asked them all sorts of questions about their impending move and they asked him if he wanted to come. They were looking for an alternative way of getting from New York to Arizona because the Matases were worried about flying with their two cats, Cleopatra and Pretty Face.
Noteworthy Televison This Week: More Proof That it is August!
A look at some noteworthy television this week:
Uncertainty About Congestion Pricing's Fate
The Daily News has an exclusive with Jan Gehl, the Danish architect the Department of Transportation would like to hire to help reduce congestion in the city. It's a nice introduction to Gehl, who has worked on congestion-reducing projects in London and Copenhagen, but it also seems like the perfect article to fire up passions. Gehl said, "...we can do is to reduce the number of parking spots. I would raise the price for parking right away." Street parkers, commence the freaking out! Some more Gehl quotes:
"There are so many places in this city where people are treated very badly on the sidewalk, where the congestion is unpleasant. ... The balance is not very good here....more ›
How the Lower East Was Won, or Lost
The New York Times has an interesting story today on Sion Misrahi and the Lower East Side he helped transform. If you've walked down Rivington St. a few times, you've probably noticed the Misrahi Realty storefront business. Its owner is Sion Misrahi, who sold pants for his father in the neighborhood when he was fourteen. When it began to gentrify, he worked to classify the old bargain-shopping district as a landmark area. Then he decided to start marketing real estate in the neighborhood to nightlife businesses. The Times separates the changes into four parts: "shmattes to hipsters to bulldozers to tourists."
Noteworthy Televison This Week: Heroes, Idols, and Bears, Oh My!
A look at some noteworthy television this week:
Adventures of the Queens Couple and Their Cabbie
Betty and Bob Matas, along with cab driver Doulgas Guldeniz, are well on their near-cross-country trek to Sedona, Arizona from Forest Hills. And not only are the Matases' cats Cleopatra and Pretty Face along for the ride, so is Daily News reporter Peter Donohue! We hope that Ford Escape taxi is big enough for everyone - apparently Cleo and Pretty Face hate each other.
The Ultimate Taxi Road Trip: Forest Hills to Arizona
There are so many things to love about the story of Betty and Bob Matas and taxi driver Doulgas Guldeniz. Yesterday, the Daily News reported that Guldenez would drive the Matases from Queens to Arizona, where a retirement community awaits the septuagenarian couple. How did an over-2,000 mile fare happen? Well, the Matases were concerned how their cats would weather traveling via cargo load. And the couple doesn't know how to drive (real New Yorkers!). Then a solution appeared:
Betty and Bob had just finished a round of shopping in Manhattan and were having trouble finding a cab to take them home.more ›
Young Grasshopper Bars at Baked
The Grasshopper Bar at Baked is the more portable version of the eponymous cake that the Red Hook bakery also sells, a 3x3 inch paean to the ultimate Betty Crocker housewife kitchen caveat, an old-fashioned, unholy marriage of Cool Whip, Crème De Menthe, and a little brownie mix.
Bronx Zoo Bear "Jughead" Dies
A beloved Bronx Zoo grizzly bear died last week at age 13. "Jughead" had been ill for months and had also undergone surgery for abdominal abscesses according to the AP. The Bronx Zoo is planning a necropsy, and the zoo's director said, "Jughead was a wonderful, charismatic animal and he will be missed by all of our staff and visitors."
From Ruas de Sao Paulo to New York City
The Brazilian street artists have landed, and we're tracking their every move as they get ready to launch Ruas de Sao Paulo: A Survey of Brazilian Street Art at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery this Saturday. Here’s an account of the movements of Boleta, Fefê, Highraff, Kboco, Onesto, Speto, Titi Freak, and Zezão.
Bourdain's Dream Iron Chef Matchups
Anthony Bourdain, who has taken to guest-blogging for Michael Ruhlman, has already offered his opinions on Top Chef contestants. Now, he's on to bigger and better targets -- the personalities on the Food Network. He admits to watching it, "I find myself riveted by its awfulness, like watching a multi-car accident in slow motion," and has plenty to say about those who grace its airwaves. Emeril: "I STILL find him unwatchable." Giada: "Food Net seems more interested in her enormous head (big head equals big ratings. Really!) and her cleavage--than the fact that she’s likeable, knows what she’s doing in an Italian kitchen--and makes food you’d actually want to eat." Rachel Ray: "She’s a friendly, familiar face who appears regularly on our screens to tell us that '[e]ven your dumb, lazy ass can cook this!'" Sandra Lee: "Pure evil. This frightening Hell Spawn of Kathie Lee and Betty Crocker seems on a mission to kill her fans, one meal at a time."
Tim Gunn TV
Tim Gunn is leaving Parsons! Could it be that he wants to spread his acting wings? Not really, his main job will now be at Liz Claiborne as chief creative officer. Let's take a look at his upcoming appearances on the thing that introduced us to Gunn in the first place, the tv.
Is Good! Best Golden Globes Speech Ever
Yes, yes, last night was the Golden Globes. And boy, that Warren Beatty NEVER SHUTS UP.
A Few Predictions For Tonight's Golden Globe Awards
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association voting pool for the Golden Globes only consists of 83 members, but every year their mainstream tastes become one of the potential early prognosticators for the Emmys and the Oscars. Over in Beverly Hills today, the stylists are putting the finishing touches on the stars' couture, that long red carpet is being laid and some assistant is double checking the seals on the envelopes. Here in New York of course, we get to play the more enviable armchair critic job hashing out who might be taking home this year's statues after tonight's telecast [8 - 11 pm on NBC].
New Year's Skywriting Let Down
Just stop wondering about the "Who Will She Choose?" sky-writing from New Year's Day. It's really anti-climactic. A few people Flickr'd it, but we doubt they actually tuned in for the premiere of the ABC Family drama Wildfire to see if heroine Kris would choose Matt or Junior. Because how were they supposed to know to tune into ABC Family in the first place?
Jessica Lynn Johnson, Playwright/Performer
Jessica Lynn Johnson, Actress/Playwright, From St. Louis Missouri, lived in Astoria NY for a little over a year now.

