Results tagged “uws”

                     

New York's newest Apple Store, at West 67th and Broadway, is officially opening up its doors this Saturday at 10 a.m. (we're told they will be giving out t-shirts). We're about to head inside for a special sneak peek, and will be updating with more images over the course of the day. First impression: that's a lot of glass! And the roof is glass, too. And this is their fourth glass staircase.

Some residents of the Upper West Side are outraged that a new business called Pet Fashion, mostly selling overpriced leashes and whatnot, is selling dogs from a puppy mill. The store, on Columbus Avenue between West 87th and 88th streets, often puts attention-getting pups on display in the front window, but West Side Spirit reports that "these dogs come from puppy mills, and the store is not welcome in the neighborhood."

Did that New Jersey storefront on the Upper West Side get you across the Hudson to check out some foliage? The NY Times reports from the state's temporary Manhattan outpost (which is still up and running), saying that it's not about competition or stealing Manhattanites away (was that really ever a fear?).

Recently we got a glimpse of the glass roof sheltering the new Apple Store, courtesy of a remote control helicopter. Now we learn that this latest store will officially open in November. The company recently went on record saying during yesterday's investor call, "We plan to open our first two stores in France, including one at the Louvre as well as our fourth high profile store in Manhattan on the Upper West Side." Let the hype begin!

Street naming became a point of controversy a couple of years ago; however, earlier this year Run-DMC got an intersection named after them in Queens, this week Where the Wild Things Are got a temporary street name... so now should the northeast corner of Central Park West and West 72nd Street be named for John Lennon?

The crane accident that went down at 775 Columbus Avenue yesterday afternoon is going to cost a pretty penny for some involved. The Real Deal reports that "the general contractor, crane owner and operator at Columbus Square face fines of up to $25,000 after a piece of a crane crushed a sidewalk covering."

Everything's fine! However, earlier this afternoon a crane struck a piece of scaffolding at an Upper West Side rental building that is under construction. The location was 775 Columbus Avenue, part of the new Columbus Square complex, and the Real Deal is reporting there are no injuries, "but emergency personnel were on the scene, making sure the crane was secure. It was not clear at press time what caused the collision."

The sneaky state of New Jersey has quietly made its way into a storefront on the Upper West Side; opening a pop-up tourism store on West 73rd and Columbus that is suspiciously devoid of Bon Jovi, the Boss, scrunchies and mall references.

A tipster emailed us saying, "There's some sort of insanity from Fairway to the 72nd St subway station. Cops everywhere, streets closed off, flashing lights and no cars are budging - any idea what's going on?" Our stab in the dark: Possible motorcade for President Obama, who landed at JFK Airport this morning to attend the memorial for CBS anchor Walter Cronkite. The memorial is being held at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall and the expected guests include astronaut Buzz Aldrin, CBS News' Katie Couric, Andy Rooney and Bob Schieffer, and NBC News' Tom Brokaw, with musicians Jimmy Buffett, Michael Feinstein, Wynton Marsalis and the U.S. Marine Band.

Who could have predicted an art caper ending with a stolen piece being returned to the scene of the crime? One of two Russian masterpieces lifted from the walls of an Upper West Side museum has now been mailed back in one piece. The NY Post reports that the Nicholas Roerich Museum staff "were shocked Friday when the mailman delivered the $70,000 painting" (pictured) in a manila envelope where it was pressed between two pieces of cardboard. One employee told the paper, "I thought it was some junk mail. I opened the envelope. Everybody started jumping up and down." The sender even left a name and return address on the envelope (which was mailed from Brooklyn), though there's no word on if it's legit.

The Nicholas Roerich Museum on West 107th Street near Riverside Drive has been robbed of two of its artworks (whilst the fat cats at the Guggenheim have people trying to give them art!). The Russian masterpieces were swiped off the walls at separate times, without anyone witnessing the act. The NY Post reports that a police officer first noticed a missing work when he was visiting on June 24th, seeing a label on the wall with no painting above it. Turns out it was a $20,000 sketch by Russian artist Roerich, circa the 1930s. Four days later an employee noticed another work went missing in the same hallway, this time a 70,000 painting. The paper reports that the NYPD has "few clues in the thefts, and surveillance video of the hallway has yielded little information." With an average of 25 visitors a day, could this be an inside job?

Imagine waiting for the subway to arrive and hearing the pleasant sounds of nature. Running water, chirping birds, the rustling of leaves... the NY Times reports that this could all be a reality at the 96th and Broadway subway station in a little over a year. The public art project proposal is on the verge of MTA approval, and "the sounds, broadcast on a loop by hidden speakers in the above-ground headhouse, would be one component of an art installation intended for the station that draws on the ideas and iconography of Asian pop art and contemporary graphic design." Construction on the station is expected to be complete by the fall of 2010, and at that time the hope is to also have the project unveiled—complete with an arched glass-and-steel structure housing nearly 200 stainless-steel flowers that will sway in the entryway. Even though the aforementioned calming sounds will be drowned out by trains from time to time, could this all make commuters less tense? You know, as long as there are no mockingbird sounds?

Former Republican Congressman (from Florida) and current MSNBC talking head Joe Scarborough is today's NY Times magazine interview subject. Besides giving some credit to Obama (and also calling him Nixonian) and explaining he's genial, not angry, the commentator explains his potentially head-scratching residence to Deborah Solomon: "How did you end up living on the Upper West Side? I love the Upper West Side. I walk down the street all the time and am stopped by Democrats. I don’t think they’ve ever actually met a Republican before.Do they shriek when they see you? Actually, they hug me, especially the little old ladies."

Free love lives! This sign was spotted at Brandeis High School on the Upper West Side (just before their prom which is taking place tonight). It's like a little history lesson on how things were in the carefree '60s, when that stinging feeling as you urinated was no cause for concern. No mention of abstinence or condoms, just a friendly reminder that if you're going to have sex, you might wanna keep it clean. Men: wash thoroughly before and after (with soap and water) because the ladies probably already have a V.D. and don't even know it! Time to stock up on douche and go to the doctor, tramps. Then it's straight back to studying up on the USSR.

What have you done for your intimate New York living space lately? 32-year-old Kevin Patterson just took home Apartment Therapy's first place prize for the smallest, coolest apartment ("teeny tiny" division). His 210-square-foot space on the upper West Side costs him $1,550/month in rent, according to the Daily News. He told the paper, "I moved here from a place that was four or five times this big."

Back in September, 77-year-old Charlie Campbell learned that The Emerald Inn—the beloved Columbus Avenue dive bar that's been in his family since the '30s—was finally doomed when he saw the location advertised for lease on a website. At the time, the landlord was demanding more than double the $15,700 monthly rent. Fast-forward to 2009, and suddenly Campbell has been allowed to stay on because, as the property manager puts it, "of the kind of people the Campbells are." Oh, and also the economy. One Emerald regular speaks for all of us when she tells the Times, "Columbus Avenue has been turning into a strip mall, with chain stores and restaurants. Maybe the recession will help the mom-and-pops stay in business." But has the meltdown come too late to save indispensable St. Mark's Place dive Holiday Cocktail Lounge?

       

The burger and custard haven Shake Shack is getting ready to open its Upper West Side location some time soonish—they are still waiting for some paperwork). In the meantime, they're putting the finishing touches on the place, which has a much bigger kitchen (= faster service) and a rec room downstairs for rental (parties, events, presentations even) that will be open to regular seating when not rented.

Last year there was talk of Apple taking root on the Upper West Side (at the old Victoria’s Secret store on Broadway and W 67th St), and now the NY Times adds to the rumor mill, saying "the applicant on the Aug. 8 alteration permit is the architectural firm of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. Among their clients is Apple Inc., for whom they have designed Apple stores in Midtown, SoHo," and others worldwide. While every press outlet has seemed to hack into their secret plans, Apple is still keeping mum about the UWS store. A commenter on City Room, however, says that it is confirmed and it will be "the largest Apple store in the U.S." Developing...

The Beacon Theater, which went dark last month for restorations, gets The NY Times treatment today as the "Carnegie Hall of rock rooms." The Times looks at the venue's past (it nearly became a grocery store in the 70s) and 78 years of neglect. But after the 6-month, $15M facelift (to be complete in February '09), will the vibe still be in tact? Gregg Allman commented, saying it “has a great vibe, it’s not either a coliseum or a club," but he went on to note that "you didn’t want the house lights all the way up, given those cobwebs with the big hunks of dust." Will the legions of hippies who flock to the UWS venue for the Allman Brothers, and various jam bands, feel at home with a clean, refurbished interior--or will they not even notice the changes?

Is Manhattan ready to buy in bulk? The NY Sun is reporting on a Costco store possibly moving in to Manhattan's Upper West Side, between 59th and 61st streets. Not everyone is embracing the idea, and local officials, labor unions and the community "may block the outlet from opening at a time when New York consumers could use the access to the lower prices available at the discount chain." One major point for the opposition is raised by City Council member Gale Brewer, who says, "I assume you need a car to go to Costco, and I thought we were promoting public transportation and bicycles and greening." Transporting the bulk items is one problem, but do most New Yorkers shopping for discount products in bulk even have room in their apartments for gigantic jars of pickles and vats of mayo? Probably not. The last attempt Costco made to move in, 8 years ago, was thwarted by the community.

As far as marketing ideas go, this one may just take the beer-battered cake. May 15th marks a Dutch invasion of the Upper West Side in celebration of Dutch heritage, and the Amsterdam-brewed Amstel Light has kicked in with a takeover of Amsterdam Avenue on that day. They'll be giving away 150 bicycles (which should never be driven after imbibing their brew), offering up drink specials, and doing other things that aren't nearly as amazing as their "unique 10-person "Beer Bike"! Best worst idea ever? Come watch the drunks fall off one by one. (Hope Amstel got insurance!)

Last night Rat Dog ended their three-night run at the Beacon Theater. The band is led by the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, and is one of the few left that will bring the hippies out to the Upper West Side (pictured).