Results tagged “sugar”

Do you enjoy soda and other delicious sugary beverages? If so, you may as well raise a cup of human fat to your lips and chug, according to a new public awareness campaign by the NYC Health Dept. The print ads depict, in graphic detail, human fat mottled with blood vessels being poured from a bottle of cola; a plastic "sports" drink bottle that looks like Gatorade; and a glass bottle of iced tea resembling Snapple, New York City's "official beverage."

While aggravated Brooklyn residents near McCarren Park have launched an organized campaign against the insipid jingles incessantly blaring from parked ice cream trucks, parents in other parts of the borough are taking aim at Mister Softee not for how he sounds but for what he sells to their children. Well, two parents anyway; a Bensonhurst mom tells the Daily News she takes her 7-year-old daugher to Seth Low Park for exercise, but an ice cream truck parked there is tearing her family apart: "I’ve had fights with my daughter in the past about it. You kind of feel like it’s pushed on you. It’s one thing if they’re just in the neighborhood, but to be here by contract [with the city], they might as well be selling drugs." (They've been known to do that too!)

New York City schoolchildren had better develop a taste for apple juice; the Department of Education has just set strict guidelines for drinks and snacks sold in schools. Starting next fall, beverages sold in elementary and middle schools will be limited to a maximum of 10 calories per ounce in 8-ounce beverages, while high school students will be permitted 25 calories per ounce. As Snapple's controversial $40 million vending contract comes to an end, the DOE plans to ban juices and other beverages with artificial colors or flavors, the Post reports. It's all part of a crusade to combat what many deem a childhood "obesity epidemic," and the city is now seeking proposals from new vendors who must limit their snack selection to items under 200 calories, with less than 200 mg. of sodium and less than 10 percent saturated fat. And since the Snapple deal came with a $28 million sweetener for the city's fitness and sports programs, the DOE is also hoping the new vendor will be willing to make a similar donation for vending rights to the city's 865 schools, which contain some 2,235 vending machines.

More Americans are coping with the economy's crash by chasing a sugar high, if sales data on mass-produced proletariat candies are to be believed. Up until the fourth quarter of last year, sales of candies like Hershey Kisses, Gummy Bears, and Jelly Bellies were losing out to fancy, high-end brands; now, according to Edgar Roesch, a food analyst with Soleil Securities, that trend has been reversed. Cadbury reported a 30% rise in profits for 2008, and Nestle’s profits grew by 10.9%. At Economy Candy on the Lower East Side, owner Jerry Cohen has had to increase his orders by 10%. Of course, there's always a down side to the sugar high. Liz Josefsberg, who runs Weight Watchers meetings in Manhattan, tells the Times candy talk has dominated recent meetings: "I’m hearing a lot about Skittles and Mary Janes." (Though if Mary Jane's your problem, you're probably in the wrong meeting.) And there may be a historical precedent for the current candy renaissance; it's worth noting that Snickers, Tootsie Pops, Mars bars with almonds, and Three Musketeers were all introduced during the Great Depression.

It's been a while since there's been any movement on developer Michael Lappin's plans to turn the decaying old Domino factory in Williamsburg into a 2,200-unit residential and retail complex. Could it be the $1.3 billion project is being scaled back or abandoned, seeing as how the economy went down and hung itself in America's dank basement? The developer insists all systems are go, despite the fact that some of the banks underwriting the project have gone bust, and the real estate market is hobbled. Now some community groups and officials opposed to the plans are calling this an opportunity to reconsider the project, which some say will overwhelm the already stained public transportation system and parking situation. Assemblyman Joe Lentol tells the Observer, "We have now an opportunity to negotiate. They may be able to see the light and redesign the project so that it's more amenable to the community." Lappin says he expects to file the land use application with the city soon, and then the project will undergo the crucial public review phase.

      

The waterfront property at the Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg will be open to the public for the first time in over a century this Sunday. Refinery, LLC, the developer who plans to convert the landmarked refinery into residential units, is inviting everyone over for free refreshments and a chance to take in the East River views. The plan is to have more of these events in the spring and give the community a taste of what's to come when developer completes a planned five-block-long esplanade on the property.

Rumors of another big box department store following Ikea's footsteps into Red Hook have been all but confirmed by the Brooklyn Paper, which is reporting that BJ’s Wholesale Club is "on the verge of announcing plans to move into the former site of the Revere Sugar factory." That would put the members-only retailer just down the street from Ikea and bring Red Hook residents closer to fulfilling their dream of living in a world class shopping plaza. “Will there be more? Yes. It’s inevitable,” Landon McGaw, director of sales for Massey Knakal Realty Services, told the paper. And if the project is approved after a public review process, it would be the second BJ's for Brooklyn!

Michael Lappin, CEO of the managing company for what is being called the "New Domino", responded yesterday to our questions about the proposed project via email.

The iconic Domino Sugar sign is not included in these renderings. [We photoshopped it back in, above.] Is there any plan to preserve that somewhere at the site? We are making every effort to save the sign. We are looking at different engineering solutions regarding the “where and how.” It’s a complex problem.

Well, candy is in the mouth of the beholder, but here are the actual renderings. As noted yesterday, the proposals for the new residential and retail complex at the Domino Refinery will be presented to the Landmarks Preservation Commission at a public hearing today at 2pm at the Municipal Building (1 Centre Street), 9th Floor North. Brownstoner posted snapshots of the renderings taken last week at a community board meeting, as well as floor plans for the modified refinery, which would feature five floors of residential units on the roof.

Here's one of our favorite munchies, a healthy(ish) and interesting snack to add to your game plan for Sunday. It's also quick and easy enough to whip up during the commercials.

Some people may prefer other bakeries, but from the looks of the crowd at the Magnolia Bakery's new Upper West Side location, people are hungering for some heavily frosted cupcakes. If the treats are available, that is.

Easy, sugar fiends - the new Magnolia Bakery outpost on the Upper West Side (Columbus at 69th Street) isn't quite opening at 11AM as Eater reported yesterday. We walked by around 9:30AM and the sign said that they anticipated a noon opening.

dainty feet, by istolethetv at flickr