Just in time for Black History Month, the Queens neighborhood of Addisleigh Park has been designated our 102nd historic district. Built initially as an exclusively white community the neighborhood changing times (and a few lawsuits) led it to eventually become the home of some serious African-American stars. A few of the notables include Count Basie, James Brown, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horn, Joe Lewis and Jackie Robinson.
Addisleigh Park Is Now a Historic District
Hotel Pennsylvania's Last Gasp
There's been talk of what will happen to the Hotel Pennsylvania for a while now, and today the NY Observer reports that the skyscraper planned to take over the 401 Seventh Avenue address could be stopped by preservationists. Since the demolition project needs to be met with public approval it might not bode well that the construction "would entail building over the railroad tracks that run beneath the hotel and pose engineering and security challenges." However it seems like a done deal, as the NY Times reported today that "Merrill Lynch has been negotiating with Vornado over the terms of a billion-dollar 65-year lease that would give the company control of the half-block hotel site."
N.Kid and J.Lo in a Movie Together; World Stops Turning
- Gushing by co-stars about each other's acting and singing abilities, but only during press interviews
- Earplugs being brought to the theaters
- The inevitable Entertainment Weekly cover, as well as a possible Vogue cover
- Some jokes about exes Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck making a movie together
Central Park turns 150
Central Park is celebrating its 150th birthday this year, and you can find out all the details at the 150th Anniversary page, but the official word comes today. Still, the Central Park Conservancy President Regina Peruggi tells us this:

