A shuttered 2nd Avenue Deli was an unfamiliar site on an otherwise regular Thursday - except that people knew that owner Jack Lebewohl was engaged in a kind of protest against his new owners, Jonis Realty, over a $9,000 increase in rent to $33,000 per month. The NY Times sets up the situation as an inevitable turn of the real estate market, with some interesting details: Some sort of rent increase was part of a deal with the previous owners 15 years ago (!) - and Jonis apparenlty agreed to knock off $3,000 of the rent. Huh - if someone generates a model that can project, hmm, let's see, what an acceptable margin of profit would be, over 15 years, and see how that might offset a 25% increase in rent, with considerable new capital investments to make, taking into account inflation, wage issues, and price elasticity (or inelasticity), please tell us! more ›

Gothamist is always delighted to discover a happening bistro, trattoria or cafe where we'd least expect to see it. Our latest "foodie find" is in the far off land of Inwood, at the very tippy-top of Manhattan: Park Terrace Bistro. more ›

NY2LON: You're Not Invited more ›

Will New York be geographically surrounded by happily married homo couples? First, it was Vermont; next it is likely to be Massachusetts; and now, Canada. Will New York feel the geographic pinch? With hundreds of Chelsea boys ready to register at Barney's, New York may cave in and come out.
more ›

The World Health Organization reversed its prior decision and has reinstated Toronto in its list of SARS sites. Summary: Toronto's still screwed. How does this affect Toronto's film industry? Will New York be the new New York in film and television? more ›