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Down in the E Village the original 2Av deli closed [JAN 2005]. What do you get now? Jamba Juice was new to NYC in 2004 first at TimeWarner Center but since then a widespread Manhattan fixure along with rapidly spreading CHIPOTLE [a McDonalds brand]..EXTREME PITA of Canada opened its first JUN 2007 of many more planned in NYC area at 119e23.

Citywide the Before this new wave yogurt craze since only 2007, most new to NYC fast food places were Quiznos, Chipotle, Jamba Juice and such. Existing chains also saw opportunity to expand, so Subway and Dunkin Donuts seemed to be almost everyhere after several years of post 2002/2003 expansion. DEC 2007 RED MANGO of Korea joined other newcomer chains here PINKBERRY [13 NYC locations JUN 2008] and Yolato [8] which are both aggressively expanding [mostly Manhattan] in 2008. YOLATO bars and pints starting 'upscale' Manhattan supermarkets, then wider distribution planned. Yourt w umm topping orgy of newcomers continue on thru fall 2008 ->hipsters flocking to YoGo, YogoMonster, Yofiore [BK Court St], Yo__ and Yo___.

Another newcomer in 2007 was Qdoba [burritos] Grill. Dale & Thomas plus Garrett Popcorn Shops and a few Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries [of VA] Manh and Brooklyn. Note SEPT 21 2008->Burritoville closed up by new corporate owner. A new franchiser aimed, but has NOT, opened many ARBYs in NYC 2009, even into the ol Gage* Tollner spot in Brooklyn!

The Producers
had Nathan Lane-Matt Broderick back Dec 30-April 4 2004 boosted sagging sales so they took advantage by selling 50 of the best seats each performance [started in Nov 2001] $480. with the thought that these tickets will go directly to theatergoers and not be sold to scalpers who were doing very well from this show.

BEWARE Young Frankenstein- pre-opening public AMEX sale- ALL seats of lower orchestra, aisle and front rows of balcony for TRIPLE price - summer 2008- some seats available at TKTS half price tix! AUG 2008-Jujumacyn?-theaters aisle seat surcharge 'market demand' will be added for some hot shows, and you MUST buy 2 seats. Premium "Broadway Inner Circle VIP" priced tix started with "The Producers" for hot shows from Doubt to Spamalot [212-307-4599] range to over $301 and now tie up to 7% to $10% of the best seats! Regular orchestra price [are thus harder to come by!] went over $100 several years back, are commonly $120 to $160 + a fee. There may be added 8% NY State tax added in 2009! Of course for just the opposite, try for 'rush'/ student priced just befoe many shows, TDF/TKTS booth sales, and discounted tix online at various sites [below.]

Fun City [- who made that line infamous?] Sanitized for Your Protection

If its been a years since a visit and you thought you knew your way around, you may be disoriented. The Broadway 'beach' street closings started May 2009 are something between as both people-zoo and urban amenity and to me has an impact to rival the actual biggest physical change when entire western halves of 40 to 43st between 7 and 8 Ave were cleared in 1998-99 for development. 42St is now built up river to river with high rises. On the west from 9 Av to the river are a new crop of trendoid "luxury" rentals and condos. What really changed in TIMES SQ over the years is that is no longer a place for adults in the broad sense. Grown-up establishments for drinking, smoking, and dancing faded away from the 1960s on. It is not just dandies and couples that populated late nights. From Times Sq to downtown Brooklyn, blue collar shift workers kept bars and all-night cafeterias hopping late - some 24 hrs. ITS ALL GONE. Kids and family tourist stuff actually was secondary and belonged to the day hours. Old-school nightclubs, whats that? Mostly GONE. Porn and vice "always" existed in Manhattan "tenderloin", but it really took off the late 1960s and accelerated for 15+ years centered on 42st-8Av. The theater district moved uptown one last time early in the 2oth cent and there are NO more movies on TIMES SQ with closing of the Astor Plaza and JAN 27 2006 closing of LOEWS State [basement of Virgin Megastore- itself closed in 2009]. Land is too expensive so area movies hang on only at 42st-8Av two mega-plexes there. Despite the filled-to-capacity sidewalks through most of the evening, more and more places and restaurants close and stop serving somewhat early. Tourists and commuters go to the Hard Rock, MTV, Toys R Us, fast food, theme restaurants, theatre..and then go home or back to hotels early. Considering what used to be, it is hard to find a modest meal after 11pm - got only McDs and such, late nite.

Now NYC in general is about destruction and construction, but the most concentrated change is at Times Sq.-42. The Times Sq cleanup [by demolition!] was in the works since Koch's times and further enabled to be implemented after 1993 [-Mayor DINKINS] Disney commitment to the New Amsterdam thea. with emphasis that sex shops had to be closed. Not long after, new Mayor Giuliani seized the spotlight and corporate connections and the New Times Sq. stealthily took shape. There is no porn on 42nd St. The surviving "adult" shops are on 8av near the bus terminal between 34-40St and on W37 and W39 where NYTimes[3-15-2005] reports the number of these shops increased to 18 from 6 in a year and a half in small buildings where the owners find these are the only stores they can count on for higher rents they demand were joined by scattered new porn shops in the last few years by observing the mixed merchandise 60-40 quirks of anti-porn zoning of 1995. There a few others in Manhattan new from the last few years scattered on Christopher St., and 6av in Chelsea.

Show World space on 42-8av [summer 2004] was converted into a comedy club. on at 8th Ave at 42, but they downsized into a smaller place for several more years in another part of the same building around the corner ON 8Av. Giuliani believed the first incarnation of the anti-porn zoning law would be enough to drive all of it out of NYC, but courts found 60-40 to be legal loophole allowing porn shops to operate in residential neighbourhoods. They still face closure under still-contested 2001 amendment of the 1995 regulations. The harsher regulations including tougher street spacing restrictions was found to be constitutional APRIL 2005, but adult businesses sued and won in Supreme Ct, then lost DEC 2005 appeals court..re-challenge to the "60-40" rule and enforcement is going to trial late Winter 2009. There are only literally only a few square blocks in all of NYC at various fringe areas spots which are OK for "adult" stuff. A LOT of them [25 at end of 2008] are at edge of Sunset Park Brooklyn. Strip club$ such as SCORES WEST [w28st Chelsea] is in one of those few legal spots but NOT SCORES East, for example. As far as prostitution goes, Craig's List online and such, and the cell phone replaced street walkers and the pimps. It seems a sign of the times that sex in NY in public is just in a museum [or at underground umm establishments or higher-priced services by appointment - ha!], that is, the Museum of Sex, Chelsea 5av27st. opened early OCT. 2002-with "1001 Nights in Manhattan."

GIULIANI also pushed zoning changes [and BLOOMBEG continued on] in the manufacturing zone of West Chelsea to concentrate nightclubs on W26-w28, just north of the gallery blocks. The State Liquor Authority granted lots of liquor licenses to new clubs there 1999-2002. The first new places brought down celebs. By 2004-06 a flood of young club-goers plus underage sluts and borough Yo-s came to more new clubs. These blocks turned into a zoo. It also attracted predators. Club-related crime including murders made police crack-down with THURS-SAT night searchlights, street closures, horse patrol and a Club Task force undercovers making cases to close down some of the clubs bar are and the NYPD are using young police undercovers to infiltrate and entrap bartenders and bouncers for fines and closings.

The must-see of 42st strip is in the restored New Amsterdam (1903) theatre of Ziegfeld Follies glory years. Tours are given. It's the Disney flagship theater, with Mary Poppins [OCT 2006] to replace the Lion King which already moved to Minskoff Thea. The Disney seal of approval gave other investors a signal to move in. The Disney store at 42 and 7 Ave. moved into retail space of New Amsterdam Thea. in April 2000 as construction proceeded in the blockfront on 7 Ave. [in 2004 Disney Stores were bought out by "The Children's Place"] continued for now complete Ernst&Young tower, diagonally across from the completed Reuters tower.

The renovated Selwyn Thea. on 42 St. became the American Airlines Thea housing Roundabout Theater Co. The Winter Garden is now the Cadillac Winter Garden, refurbished after 'CATS" left, then "Mamma Mia" opened there Oct. 18 2001. The BILTMORE Thea. was renovated-partially restored late 2002-2003, became MTC's [Manhattan Theatre Club] home, which renamed for Samuel J. Friedman Sept 2008. Almost directly across 42 St. from the New Amsterdam is new Ford Center. [formed of portions of the *gone* Lyric and Apollo Theaters]. Come in for the spectacular midtown view from the 30 Rock Plaza observation deck, closed for nearly 20 years reopened in time for the holidays NOV 1 2005. I finally went spring 2006 and it is a great space and view! The economic downturn and then 9-11 attack saw NYC tourism peak and decline then slowly rise with a late 2004 surge in free- spending Euro visitors due to the high value of the EURO. Tourists still severely jam the streets along side traffic especially busses and cabs in Times Sq., making for one of the justificaton for closing a few blocks of Broadway there to traffic starting Memorial Holiday Weekend May 2009. Lower Manhattan actually is a secondary tourist area. Since PATH to WTC site reopened NOV 23 2003 and *single-occupancy vehicle restrictions ended NOV 17 2003* more Jerseyites and other suburban visitors were back for casual shopping and sightseeing trips into Manhattan. [NJ residents may have been at least 40% of people at the WTC from PATH, ferries, et al.]

The 52 floor NY TIMES new tower on 8th Ave.-41 St. [Mar-Apr 2005 excavation and foundation work was under way, helped along with State condemnation of land and a generous tax break from the city]. Even more so than the shops within, these new office towers dominate and changed the whole feel of the place. Suburban mall-type food and shops are now entrenched. The fast food places and others store chains directly along Times Sq-Bway are higher priced, meaner and mostly dirtier versions of their suburban counterparts. For about the same prices at [new 2003, 44st-7av] NYCs 1st Bubba Gump you can go to a "real" restaurant not far down nearby side streets. But, if fast food prices are what you're looking for there is McDonalds 42nd and on Bway[7Ave] near Times Sq Visitors Ctr. CLOSED-July 8 2005 so its too late to have a soda, coffee, or ice cream break at the unchanged, last in NYC 1952 Howard Johnson's near TKTS. [Last HoJo in VT, MI and MD also closed 2005.] That building and two neighbors were sold Spring 2005 and demolished in 2007 for a condo/retail tower. There were only [5] HoJo left anywhere at that time.

McHales [orig 1933 "gaiety"] tavern on 46-8Av closed early 2005 demolished the old apt bldg it was in and combined with the next door lot on 8Av a condo tower was built already. It was another of vanishing breed - loss of old original taverns, delis, restaurants a growing loss to real life here and devoted tourists who will increasingly stay home now to see the same chain. Among latest themed joint opened was Sept 22 2006 "Hawaiian Tropic Zone" 7Av-49St [Hawaiian theme but comfort food and sports bar w a dash of Hooters]. Better yet but still a chain, the first NYC branch of Ted's [Turner] Montana Grill [serves up bison meat!] opened Sept 27 2006 110w51 off 6 Av [Time&Life Bldg], after a several year search for space. Afterwards, hop on over to JUNIORs [opened JUNE 19 2006] at 45st at Shubert Alley for their famous cheesecake [also at Grand Central food area]. Besides food and impulse stuff, fashion and accessories etc have come, with Ann Taylor Loft coming to 7 Times Sq late 2006. Sephora opened on Bway 43-44 a few years ago already. The Times Sq. Brewery closed Spring 2006 [it reopened Mar 2004 42st just W of 7 Av -so no more mini Concorde on top]-. RIPLEYS Believe It or Not came back to NYC for fist time in since 1972, in JUNE 2007 where huge EasyEverything -from Europe- had been from fall 2000 until mid 2006. A large 7-11 store at One Times Sq. was canceled as was "Billy Martin's Cowboy Cafe". Hershey's choc. theme store [B'way-47th Crowne Plaza] opened 12-2-02, and the first Manhattan RED LOBSTER in the new Ernst&Young bldg. on 7av-41 St. opened late July 2003. MARS candy was not to be left out so DEC 7 2006 new M&Ms World across the street from HERSHEY in a new condo tower. Fall 2005? a second HAVANA Central will open at 151w46 [-Post, Commercial Real Esate 5-4-05].

The New Victory [family!] Theater on 42 St. in the'Disney-ized' Times Sq., include the urban flagship store for TOYS r US [opened NOV. 2001] in part of the old BONDS site, the north part of the bldg is now BOND45 restaurant. The new NOKIA Theater [concerts -rock etc] opened OCT 2005 in what was the Loews Astor Plaza [1,440 seats] movies which closed Aug 5 2004. It was largest single screen movie thea in NYC showing movies since June 26 1974 a few years after the tower above which took the place of ol ASTOR HOTEL, was completed. Elsewhere in the district there are other surprises. HOOTERS opened it's first NYC bar/restaurant at w56 just E of Broadway, and the surrounding area is going through changes too. MTV studios are in the same bldg as the Astor and Minskoff Thea, and '20/20 Downtown' studios are across the street. They cause their own crowds to linger on the sidewalks. A huge McDonalds 42st opened fall 2002 [next to M. Tussaud's] with its own blazing marquee, just the thing for the 'new' 42 St. ESPN zone opened late 1999 at 42St.-7 Ave. In between these at One Times Sq is Walgreen's [late 2008], making a return to space it once had until the early 1960s when the whole bldg. became ALLIED CHEMICAL tower.

The 860 room 45 fl. Westin NY at 43st 8Ave. opened its lower floors rooms NOV. 2002 with one of it's restaurants the first NY SHULAs Steakhouse of the chain. This high-rise hotel marked the completion of E-walk, with a Starbucks [open til 2:30 am weekends!]-the Hilton Times Sq [actually 41st with a 42st entrance] was built in 2000 with lower floors containing [food court CLOSED Mar-Apr 2003. APR 2006 NYCs first Dave & Buster's opened there, and 25 screen Empire AMC theatres. "E-walk" was a meaningless but catchy name. The complex also includes Loews 4-screen 'plex, arcade, NY Yankees 'Clubhouse' shop, BB King's Blues House, the first NYC "Hello Kitty" Sanrio store, Chevy's Tex-Mex, Pasta Break [Sept 2002] for food, 1st NYC Cold Stone Creamery [in 2007 it will have expanded to "about" a dozen area locations] and a Dallas BBQ [mid2006]. The last piece on the complete remaking of the block is still vacant. Original plan was for 2006[!] opening of the EcKo flagship store finally died fall 2008. The company never got he whole conversion of a former, moved theatre to 3 fl superstore financed, they stopped paying rent DEC 2008 and still owe one of their architects money. Marc you are so fabu, how did this happen! Across 42st from it, is Madame Tussauds which opened late fall 2000. Its all not like NY at all, really. In Feb. 2002 the Museum Store 42 St. in e-walk closed [as is the 5th Ave. Museum Store and some of the others.]

Theater and Tickets
theatre link Studio Dante broadway on b'way skirball center Cirque du Soleil Queens Thea. in the Park	City Center Manhattan Thea. Club B'klyn Academy of Music Pregones Latino Thea. Thea for the New City Radio City	Roundabout Theatre United Stages off-off bway guide to Musical Theater phillyfaces - for actors Tribeca Theatre Festival Oct Papermill Playhouse breakdown svcs.com [casting]
Broadway.com TheaterMania freeNight Season of Savings	atEvent NY Today-theater N Y Theatre Workshop off Bway audience extras	T D F Playbill online broadway box tix Broadway League
Symphony Dance Opera
NY City Opera Metropolitan Opera Lincoln Center Joyce theater dance City Center NYC Ballet Symphony Space Juilliard Gilbert & Sullivan players the Times Center	American ballet Theatre Carnegie Hall Twyla Tharp Tony Silva Dance and Music cedar lake dance 547w26 NY Philharmonic Orchestra of St. Luke's Oratorio Society of NY NY Grand Opera 92 St. Y concerts	Alvin Ailey Prudential Ctr OCT 2007 Merkin Concert hall N Y Collegium little orchestra society Chamber Music Society of Linc Ctr since 1969 NJ Symphony Orchestra BelCanto Society NJ Perf. Arts Centre
Venues	New York Metro Arts	ALLNY guide theater locations
* Virginia Thea. renamed for August Wilson, OCT 17 2005, 5-9-05 Royale Thea. renamed for Bernard B. Jacobs [Pres Shubert Theas til 1972-96 d.] and Plymouth Thea. renamed for Gerald Schoenfeld [current Shubert theaters chair]* *Merce Cunningham [90] Sept 27 2009* *Dominick Dunne [83] Aug 26 * *John Hughes Aug5 2009 [59]* *author Frank McCourt July 19. Walter Cronkie July 17* *Natasha Richardson [45] Mar 18 2009* *Eartha Kitt [1927-]Dec25 2008..Gerald Schoenfeld Nov 25 2008 [b. 1924].. Clive Barnes Nov 19 2008 [b 1927]..Dee Dee Warwick [b. 1940 Newark] Oct 18.. Kitty Carlisle Hart [96] Apr 17..Art Buchwald Jan 17 2007..Vincent Sardi Jr. died JAN 4 at a hospital in VT* *John Harms Center NJ shut down APR 2003* *Selwyn is the American Airlines Thea.*
Film
Tribeca Film Fest Apr22-May3 2009 AmerAsian International Film Fest Summer- Hamptons Film Fest OCT Horror film fest NOV Staten Is. Film Fest June	NY Film Festival late Sept Queens Film Festival Nov Newfest Lesbian & Gay et al Film Festival early June Film Forum Stonybrook Flm Fest[LI] JUL 23-AUG 1 2009	Woodstock Film Festival Israel Film Festival NOV 6-13 2008 Columbia U Film Fest NY Underground Film Festival American Mus. of the Moving Image Bicycle Film Festical Spring
OTHER FESTIVAL: SPRING: Hoboken Art & Music Festival MAY 3 2009 street fair Washington St. SUMMER: Bryant Park Film Fest. June-Aug MONDAYS 212-512-5700 www.bryantpark.org Governors Island season: May 31 - Oct 11 2009 FRI 10am->5pm SAT-SUNDAY 10am->7pm www.govisland.com 2009: June 27- Plot 09: This World & Nearer Ones outdoor sculpture show Governors Is. Siren Music Festival.com free Comey Island 1 day July 13 2009 noon-9pm NY Philharmonic free in the parks see www.nyphil.org/parks 212-875-5709 July free Shakespeare Central Park Delacorte Thea. www.publictheater.org/ Twelfth Night Jun __-July 12, Bacchae Aug 11-30 2009 Central Park Summerstage free www.summerstage.org June 12 thru Aug 16 2009 first BAM-NYU-Asia Society "Muslim Voices: Arts & Ideas" JUN 5-19 2009 Harlem Week end of July Brooklyn concerts July Aug Asser Levy Park and Wingate Field - www.brooklynconcerts.com 718-469-1912 River Flicks Pier 54 and Pier 25 at dusk July and Aug www.hudsonriverpark.org 212-533-PARK Mostly Mozart late July-Aug [www.lincolncenter.org] July: Latino Film Festval, Siren Music Festival.com [1-day] free CONEY ISLAND, Jazz at 92st Y www.92Y.org/eNews Summer Blues Cruise summer concert cruise www.bluescruiseny.com JULY Bastille Day Citroen Rally upper west side Riverside Pk. near Grants Tomb 122 st. to east side NO more Fort Tilden outdoor concerts 2008, driven out by National Parks Service after 20 years. August: Lincoln Ctr Out of Doors AUG 5-23 2009 www.lcoutofddors.org www.fringenyc.org/ NY Fringe Festival FALL: Sept: DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Sept. 9 - 27 2009 20 Washington St Broadway on Broadway Sept 14 2008 SUN- Times Sq. outdoors performances Brooklyn Book Festival 1 day mid. Sept Sept 10-13, 17-20 2009 only-New Island Festival from Neth. on Govbernors is. Sikh Internatonal Film Festival Sept 18-19 2009 sikharts.com at Asia Society jewapalooza and Jewish Music & Heritage Festival 72st-Riverside Park. October: New Yorker Festival, d.u.m.b.o. art under the bridge festival www.dumboartscenter.org, Gowanus artists studio tour OCT 18, 19 www.agastbrooklyn.com 7th NY theNewYorkBurlesqueFestival.com Oct 1-4 2009 Hoboken artists studio tour late OCT [18 2009] www.hobokennj.com BAM Next Wave festival [Oct/early DEC]. OCT : New Yorker Festival www.festival.newyorker.com French Urban Cultures Fetival OCT 6-28 2008 ww.frenchculture.org November: NY Comedy Festival NOV 4-8 2009 nycomedyfestival.com, Pratt Open Studios midNOV _ WINTER: Flamenco Festival Feb. worldmusicinstitute.org flemencofestival.org ================================== LIVE EVENTS, CONCERTS and FILM *FEB 25 2010: Bill Clinton and G W Bush at Radio City [really] SpeakerSeriew2010.com *DEC 31 2009 Mariah Carey at Madison Sq Garden citi card presale *OCT 15 at Zieggeld, Monty Python back FOR 1 night only, really! *Bill Cosby at Avery fisher Hall OCT 17 2009 *Star Wars in Concert - Izod Center NOV 20 Nassau Colliseum NOV 21 ticketmaster and American Express advance tickets. *Jimmy Buffett NOV 24 Madison Sq Garden . *Andrea Bocelli Izod Center December 5 2009 8pm *Ticket master scams->Ticketmaster owns and operated re-sale TicketsNow.com - gets 15% commisison from them..Ticketmaster diverting tix for its own sales to TicketsNow? Looks like crooks - When Springsteen tix went on sale Feb 2 2009 going to Ticketmaster were redirected to TicketsNow for 5x the price. Sen. Schumer and Bill Parcell Jr. [NJ] be able to get FTC to do anything? NYState anti SCALPING laws expired and changed JUN 1 2007 - old price caps, licensing requirements for brokers remain, season ticket holders can sell their tickets* photo shoots NYC see http://mitchellconsulting.net/commonsense/?p=2928 B'way and other entertainment updated often, but check links for Theatre Direct 800-334-8457 Box office, telecharge 212-239-6200 or Ticketmaster 212-307-4100, 800-223-7565 http://www.ticketmaster.com Lincoln Center events Centercharge 212-721-6500 Ticket resale - http://www.stubhub.com Closings NOTE- post-TONY JUNE 14 Guys and Dolls. reasons to be pretty, Joe Turner's.., Exit the King, "9 to 5" Late UAG 2009, The Little Mermaid Sept 6 Brighton Beach Memoirs closed after 1 week Nov 1 2009 and Broadway Bound follow up is cancelled. 2009 Jan 3-Oleanna .................................... Alvin Ailey www.alvinailey.org 212-581-1212 51th season Dec 2 2009 -Jan 3 2010 season thru JAN 4 2009/ Joan Weill Center for Dance studios opened w55st at 9Av NOV 2004 ABT American Ballet Thea www.abt.org Joyce Thea. 175 8 Ave- 212-242-0800 www.joyce.org ->see also for Joyce Soho calendar Metroplitan Opera 125 Anniv. Season Sept 22 2008-> Mark Morris Dance at BAM Martha Graham Dance- Skirball Ctr May 12 - 16 2009 www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu N Y C Ballet - www.nycballet.com Spring 2009- JAN 6 - MAR 1 Paul Taylor Dance - www.citycenter.org Rosanne Spradlin Dance Nov 7-11 Dance Theater Workshop City Opera - www.nycopera.com Spring season 2009- .......................................... HOLIDAY shows and Special Events- How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Musical NOV 1-JAN 6 2008 St. James Theatre www.grinchmusical.com Hansel and Gretel-Met. Opera Dec 24 early -Jan 1,4 2009 NYC Ballet Nutcracker 212-721-6500 Nov 27 - Jan 3 2010 Radio City Christmas Spectacular [ticketmaster-] Nov13-Dec30 2009 Cirque du Soleil Wintuk Nov 11 2009-JAN 3 2010 cirquedusoleil.com Big Apple circus OCT 22 2009-JAN 18 2010 Lincoln Ctr. Holiday Train Show NY Botanical Garden NOV 23-JAN 11 2009 nybg.org New York Pops [26th anniv] ____ 2009 Carnegie Hall Rocks off concert cruises rocksoff.com American Songbook at Lincol Ctr 2009- most shows at Allen Room and Rose Hall of Jazz at Lincoln Ctr [TimeWarner bldg] 212-721-6500 . ........................... Hayden Planetarium at Rose Center 81 st off CPW 212-769-5200 --------------------------- CONCERTS-see web sites of venues - Beacon Theater closed AUG 2008- JAN 2009 for restoration- new OCT the Studio at Webster Hall free performances opening week WFMU fall record fair late OCT 128w18 [off 6av] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rebuilt reopened Symphony Space Apr. 12 2002 and 'Leonard Nimoy' THALIA APR. 13 @ B'way W. 95 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Radio City Christmas Spectacular NOV __ - DEC __ 2009 NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players - www.gasp.org citytix 212-581-1212 ................................................ "Live from New York"-"...A highly selective guide to the all-time great gigs. A highly seclective guide to the musical high notes that could only have been hit in this town. 1. BOB DYLAN -Goodes Folk City April 11 1961- not the first live in NY, but "[t]he official coming out. the start." set of 5 songs, unrecorded. 2. New York Dolls at the Mercer Arts Center 1972 - - ['Oscar Wile Room' at Broadway Central Hotel] 3. PUBLIC ENEMY at Madison Sq. Garden 1992 4. MOONDOG at 54 St- 6 Ave. 1943-1974 [d. in Europe in 1999] steet presence and occsssional performer dressed in Viking gear w/ spear. 5. Charlie Parker on 52 St. in 1945 at Onyx, 3 Deuces, Famous Door. 6. MOBY - Maskarave Halloween 1992-93 7. The Ramones at CBGB Aug. 16, 1974 -"Punk - the antidote for the dregs of whimpy hippie rock and the horror disco, had to be invented that night..and [Dee, joey, Johnny and Tommy] were the only ones who were going to do it." 8. Murray the K at the Brooklyn Fox [Flatbush Ave.] 1961 David Mancuso at the Loft 1973 -two different DJs THEIR times. 9. Mandonna at DANCETERIA [21 St. bet 5-6] 1982 lipsync 'Everybody' 10. Afrika Bambaataa 'sets Kool Herc spin at a Bronx party 1973' 11. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN at the Bottom Line Aug. 1975 - believe the hype. 12. Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club 1927-31. [142 St.-Lenox] - immortals! 13. Tito Puente at the Palladium Ballroom 1952-56 14. Better Middle at the Continental Baths 1970-72 w/ Barry Manilow . Only in NY !!! 15. FRANK SINATRA at the NY Paramount OCT. 12 1944 Columbus Day. had 'previously appreared at the Paramount opening for Benny Goodman on December 30, 1942." -New York Magazine Oct. 22 2001 ================================================== TKTS locations, Theatres open and closed etc. Tourist kiosks. 2009 OCT 6 - NOV 16 New Jerey tourism pop up store Columbus Av - 73st! JAN 2009 Updated NYC visitors center 7 Ave-53 st and web site www.NYCgo.com new TKTS Times Sq opened OCT 16 2008 [cash, credit cards]. TKTS lower Manhattan at John/Water St. [South St. Seaport]- TKTS Brooklyn at MetrotechCtr 7-10-2008 Times Sq. Visitors Center 7 Ave.-between McDonalds and the Palace Theatre-> tickets, bathrooms and internet terminals, information. Brooklyn visitors center opened Feb 12 2004 Borough Hall 10-6pm weekdays www.brooklyntourism.org. CHINATOWN tourist booth is at CANAL ST at Walker St. traffic island. CHINATOWN businesess whined that tourism is down since 9-11 but so much of it is dirty and literally stinks [esp. in warm weather, no matter what. But MOTT St is less crowded, and is OK. Canal is crazy to me. Elizabeth and Grand St. best bets, too. Harlem tourist kisok Adam Clayton Powell Blvd [7 Av] bet. 125-126 st. NYC's Official Visitor Information Center midtown at 810 7th Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets. tel. 212/484-1222) for free NYC brochures, maps and discount coupons; updates on events; touring advice from multilingual travel counselors; and tickets to top attractions Lower East Side Visitor's Center 261 BROOME - between Orchard-Allen Art and performances shifted to other DUMBO location as security concerns force closure of the ANCHORAGE in the Bklyn Bridge on the Bklyn side. See http://www.creativetime.org Arts at St. Ann's had to leave the Church [on Montaque at Clinton] and relocated to the Warehouse at 38 Water St. see http://www.artsatstanns.org 718-858-2424 2004-Brooklyn Academy of Music started 2-year $8.6 million restoration of 1907 bldg. each Sept. BAM next wave festival each fall. Lincoln Ctr. rebuilding -Philharmonic finds not a good match with Carnegie Hall, so renovate or replace Fisher Hall? ......................................... Neighborhood OFF-BROADWAY thea hit hard- real estate prices, more stages than good shows and competition from 10 newer off Bway stages around the theater district. Actors Playhouse - 7Av S closed early summer 2007.Or not? There are some shows there but they mush have no advertising. "Blue Heron Arts Ctr" left 123w24 Jan 2006 but The Theatre Studio moving in summer 2006. Variety Arts 3Av closed- condo tower built there. Perry St Thea since 1975, last perf July 22 2006-bldg sold Douglas Fairbanks- w42- Promenade Thea w76 may close July 2006 Sullivan St Playhouse Playhouse 91- Manhattan Ensemble Theater - Soho- Century Center - Lambs Thea-[2] since 1979. Will be a hotel behind a preserved facade. NOT a conversion will be demolished] Hotel original Lambs Club founded in 1874
Jazz Comedy Live
save CBGB Dangerfield's 1Av-61St blue note Village Vanguard Bottom Line CLOSED Jan2004 Knitting Factory closed Irving Plaza Llano Estacado [Wburg] joe's pub United Palace 175st tonic Studio B theDelancy Comix 14st-9av drom Ave A 6st JVC Jazz 2009 cancelled	Gotham Comedy Club jazz at Lincoln Center comic strip live ClubPlanet SOB's sounds of Brazil bowery ballroom Le Jazz au bar SummerStage Central Park laugh lounge rodeo bar 3av Tommys Tavern [Wburg] Red Lion 151 Bleecker Music Hall of Williamsburg [was northsix] IMAC - Huntington LI Bubble Longe magnetic field 97AtlanticAv Birdland	Iridium Carolines-comedy club NOKIA Bway at 44st National Comedy Club 347w36 Kaufman Center Townhall Apollo Theater Iridium Jazz Club the bitter end tribeca rock club Maxwell's Hoboken Union Hall BK St George Thea SI Cornelia St cafe theHOOK [Redhk] McCarren Park brooklyn country

The human scale of mostly low and mid-height bldgs disguised by the mega signs were a break from the opprsesive sky-blocking heaviness of midtown and a preview of openness that was just to the west, in the Hell's Kitchen of that time. Mid day in Times Sq. was very different than night. Even the "fearsome" 1970s perhaps except for a bit of 42st Times Sq. could seem family-friendly because the area consisted of mostly small buildings-the Astor Hotel and Paramount bldgs. and original Times Towers were exceptions- which were mostly covered over by the old signs even into the 1980s. The old neon and bulbs could not compete with bright daylight, as the new LED screens CAN. New towers replaced most of the early 20th cent low bldgs. But giant signs are required in the Times Sq. zoning, the first of these signs are installed on the Port Auth, Bus Terminal also. It is very intense. The entire block of 50-51 8 to 9 Ave was VACANT after demolition of Madison Sq Garden, from mid 1960s thru until the late 1980s apts and offices of Worldwide Plaza, marking a change foretelling other towers soon to rise in the area. The edge of the boom is along Eighth Ave corridor between 41 st [NYTimes Tower] and 56 st [Hearst tower] for more speculative type office, apartment and hotel hi-rise development was furthered by some of planned to be much taller than they could otherwise be allowed to because air-rights was purchased from the nearby mid-block theaters. Coming now or coming a few years later, just as it these were going ahead a bust was heralded early Feb2009 as Boston Properties halted 8 Ave-55st 1mil sq. ft. office tower leaving it a foundation. Demolition for this project and a few others have nearly erased any partly seedy remnants left this part of Eighth Ave. In addition several times that amount of space is proposed for nearby Hudson Yds,, running into it's own financing and bureaucratic roadblocks. Some projects are still rising and some are folding. You need a scorecard, but whatever, the face of the city is still changing quickly. Look at the Penn Sta. area, not to mention lower Manhattan - WTC space, and part of Brooklyn and Queens. The canyons of Brooklyn?[!]

It is getting as disorienting perhaps as something out of "Blade Runner" or "Metropolis." Finally rising new speculative office is filling long-cleared lot at 42-8av S_E corner and opposite at the northeast corner will join the NY Times Tower that had move-ins spring 2007, and the Westin Hotel on 43st form a new sky-busting cluster at 8Av from 41 to 43 st. West 42st. is now a row of high rise rentals that started back in the 70s [with Manhattan Plaza subsidised performing artists rental] and condo apartment buildings. 1990s Conde Nast, noted as the first "uptown" style media moved to Times Sq., to projects which making over the Times Sq.-42 of the early 21st century into different place most of us knew, especially directly at Times Sq. with U.S. Reuters hq. and the Ernst & Young @ 42&7Av. s/w.

Times Sq. 1950, Times Sq. 2000+

57 St. has less galleries but more fancy stores just before 5av going East, the 1990s theme restaurants and theme stores on w57 are gone. The Hard Rock Cafe relocated to Times Sq. mid Sept 2005 in former the Paramount Thea which was the WWF store that closed in 2003, because the former WWF [former Billy Rose Diamond Horseshoe Club!] ownership is in dispute and it is still empty in 2007 [also closed APR 2003]. Planet Hollywood left 57St a few years ago already [moved to the Times Sq. All-Star Cafe space]. An even earlier wave of theme restaurant closings included the Motown Cafe on 57th, Fashion Cafe, the All-Star Cafe [9/00], and the Harley-Davidson cafe [Jan. 2002]. A 2-year old branch of the recreated Lundy's of Coney Island closed early July 2003. The Warner Studio57st-5av 'flagship' store CLOSED early 2001 [became the Louis Vuitton US flagship!-is that a theme store for some?] after ALL the others including the Times Sq. store were closed. but ESPN Zone [9/99] is going strong. A dynamic, fun place to shop is the strip on 6 Ave. in Chelsea from 17 to 23 St. - superstores incl. Best Buy at 23rd, Old Navy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Barnes and Noble, Manhattan's first "Container Store". These stores are mostly housed in old turn-of-the-century department store buildings constructed before the shopping are moved uptown to 34 St. and beyond, such as the old B. Altman's and the grand Cooper-Siegal [guess which bldg. it is..] At least the store exteriors are preserved. One of these buildings The O'Neill, was restored and went condo in 2005-[opened in 2007]. But the major portions of the outdoor weekend Antiques and Flea Markets moved away [39st-9av] AUG 2005 [w25st "garage" on borrowed time - condo project for site on hold for now], gone for new rental bldgs [have more younger people than condo bldgs]. The east part of this area at Broadway bet. 17 St. and 22 is another fine stretch 'Ladies Mile', of fine old buildings with an assortment of shops, mostly new, worth a walk - ABC Antiques, Fishs Eddy [diner-ware and glass], Paragon Sporting Goods, and much more [-Illuminations candle-decor store on that strip closed early Summer 2006]. But if you really don't have to ask price, Madison Ave. is sill the premier NYC shopping strip from Barneys and DKNY with the block to the north sprinkled with Top end leather-shoe-bag shops, jewelry-diamond stores, linens, Euro fashion, crystal, a few of the ol galleries, and more, thru the Ralph Lauren block between 71-72. Upper Madison Ave has fewer "neighborhood stores" left, but not for an ordinary neighborhood, natch, but Lexington as few chains, and a mix of new small boutiques join the remaining neighborhood shops.

Downtown living is for celebs [Tribeca], traders, new media people. and trendy empty-nesters, with luxe shopping and dining for them and wanna-be downtowners from everywhere else. Tribeca is hippest or hottest downtown neighborhood with small luxe restaurants and shops, though the industrial fronts of some may fool you into overlooking the top brokers or celebrities within the multimillion dollar lofts. Wall St. may have some new higher priced condos, but it is a very small niche residential market, still. The expanding boutique and restaurants mecca of [I call it East Soho] "NoLita" are in budget for younger, though affluent and the wanna-be-fab new New Yorker-new residents. Many edg-y clubs and galleries and little theaters are umm dulled, or moved out of these areas. Most galleries moved from Soho to West Chelsea and real estate prices and new lease terms are driving some established retailers even away from SOHO such as Broadway Panhandler, notes Crain's NY Business May 15-21 2006. Still, nearby Soho and lower Broadway are great for window shopping as more expensive chains featuring home furnishings, designer fashion and some jewellry dominates and luxe cosmetics stores and BLOOMINGDALEs moved in. This section of lower Broadway also feature PRADA across from Dean & Delucca, but there is also a new PUMA ['fashion' more than just sneakers] store and an "older" Avirex 'flagship' [Jan. 2002].

"In ending all limits on scalping, Spitzer assured us it had nothing to do with the $40,000 in campaign contributions he had taken from ticket brokers." - -ALL tix to some events taken online by scalpers before public has a chance...and old legal mark-up limit GONE. Tix to hot events being marked up from 5x to 500x.

See M. Daly, "Thanks to gov, only the super-rich can afford 'Hannah' tix" Daily News 11-25-2007.

Have a good time, get half price (plus service fee) tickets to a Broadway or off-Broadway show first.

Enjoy; enjoy a LOT; a WHOLE lot. Eat, drink, shop, spend more.

Making money, spending it, and eating may be the competitive sports of Manhattan. Step in some umm stuff in the street, have you car towed, get ripped off, get bad attitude, get nearly run over by a roller blader or bicyclist going the wrong way down the street, finally, beat someone to a cab or a restaurant table somewhere... yell back at someone!

(Beware) the little bench on the sidewalk you may sit on outside a coffee place, etc. (see many in the Village) is illegal - (can't say I'm un -sympathetic re: noise.) Then you are entitled to complain about everything like a real New Yorker! We have the best of almost everything that money can buy, and NOT the highest crime rate, but.

[TOP]

FUN CITY

Times Sq.
Theaters
Shops

B'way Show List Scroll

Venues Links

more new [and OLD] Times Sq.

Museum links and Cultural sites open-changed

Hotel and Tourist Links Site-see.

the Loo, WC or toilets in NYC

[BOTTOM]

Museums
Cultural sites, Parks: reopened or new- 2009/ 2009 2009 NOV 12 CaVaLa Park open. Was any private $$ put toward $3.4 million pocket park at Canal/Varick across from home the Tribeca Film Festival?, 2009 Oct17 El Museo del Bariio reopening 5Av-104st 2009July1 new section of Gantry Plz STATE Park, LIC/Queens West -- what is the deal that made this NY State land? 2009May 135e46st new small Grand Central branch NYPublic Library 2009-June High line park up to 19st. part 2 20st to 30st to open in 2010 section 3 tied to Hudson Yds project, unknown plans and completion date. 2009-Poe cottage [BX] visitors center and renovated house. 2009-Jan North Fifth Street Pier behind Northside Piers 2008 Oct3 New 'glass' gallery Museum of City of NY 2008SEPT 27 [former Arts&Crafts] Museum of American Design reopens in THAT building on Columbus Circle. 2008 AUG 19 Riverside S park phase IV 3.5 acres approx 60 st. 2008JULY 23- a finshed section of Hudson River Park-Tribeca opened. A large section of the park just N of the Chelsea Piers is still underway. National Sports Museum MAY 2008 26 Broadway [for profit]CLOSED FEB 2009 admission was $27 and a home of Heisman trophy, new park 63-off York at the river where heliport ceremonial groundbreaking APR 9 2007 'Natatorium' new Olymopic pool and an ice rink [op. fall 2008] Flushing Meadow 2-29-2008 -ol rink in QNS will close and museum will expand into it. Jackie Robinson Education Ctr and Museum late 2007 and 2008 at 1 Hudson Sq
Kid's Museums and Attractions
Jewish Children's Museum New Victory Theatre Hall of Science	Children's Museum of Manh Ringling Bros Circus Mar/Apr Long Island Children's Museum Cole Bros Circus tent S.I., Bk Big Apple Circus lateOct-midJan	Brooklyn Children's Museum S. I. Children's Museum N Y Family Sports Kid's Night on Bway JAN
Museums
The Jewish Museum Cooper Hewitt Museum of the City of NY Brooklyn Mus. of Art Guggenheim NY the Whitney Newark Museum [NJ] Museum of Modern Art Asia Society Bronx Museum of the Arts Snug Harbor Cultural Center - S.I	Museum of Nat. History N Y Historical Society South St. Seaport Museum for African Art new bldg Harlem 2009 Neue Galerie 1048 5 Ave Rubin [Tibet] Mueseum of Art new fall 2004[orig. BARNEYS] Queens [Boro] Muesum national academy of design American folk Art Museum new bldg DEC 2001 [I.C.P.] Photography 6Av-43St NY Transit Museum Center for Architecture [at AIA]	The Frick Collection Intrepid Air-Space Museum American Folk Art. Mus. Noguchi Garden Museum Dia Center Skyscraper Mueum Morgan Library and Museum Liberty Science Center Center for Jewish History 15w16st Museum at FIT Schomburg Center for research in Black Culture 515 Malcolm X Blvd. 135 St. JAPAN Society 333 E 47 Ukrainian Museum 222 e6st Museo del Barrio 1230 5th Ave-104 St. Paley Ctr [Museum of TV and Radio]
Zoo Garden Parks Sports		save Yankee Stadium
Giants Stadium + Continental Arena [NY Yankees] Yankee Stadium [NY Mets] Shea Stadium Horse tracks	NYC-Atlantic City train Chelsea Piers Brooklyn Cyclones 718-449-8497 SI Yankees 718-720-9200 Bronx Zoo Brooklyn Botanic Garden Kensington Stable [BK] Wollman Rink op 10-18-04	NY Botanic Garden [Bx.] Mad. Square Garden Wave Hill estate garden Queens Botanic Garden Riverdale Riding Aqua Ctr. 555e90 Pier 40 recreation nyc watershed recreation
NY INSECURITY: *Statue of Liberty to get about grounds a Monument Access pass in advance (limited number available the day of a visit) is required, then wait in a second security screening line! JULY 4 2009 limited passes for access to crown will start.* New Yankee and Mets stadiums 2009 NO leaving your seats during the national anthem at YANKEE STADIUM! Patriotism became tinged with fascism since 9/11, NY Police may kick you out if you get up! They always say the fan was becoming rowdy or drunk! [Note case of B. Campeau-Lampion kicked out 8-26-2008; filed a complaint against NYPD and may sue..] Other Yankee Stadium security - NO bicycle helmets, amongst other security bans. ANY sunscreen container larger than 3 oz. was banned until July 22 or so 2008- when NYPost reported it, and that they sell 1 ounce sunscreen inside for $5 ea. The stadium apparently take cues from TSA - airport style restrictions [without a no-fly or no seating list, and shoe removals, I guess]. No bags [women keep their purses] They may let you carry in SEALED soft drinks, bt MAY request to inspect your cell phone. NYTimes The City 10-10-04 noted most recommended bag check available is at Ball Park Lanes $5, e157st. METS are somewhat less restrictive.

Just as into the 1980s there were still a few apartment bargains to be had in ol rent stabilised, unrenovated walk-ups, new designer-ish businesses flocked there because the smaller retail spaces in the ol tenements were more affordable than Village_Soho_Tribeca_Meat Market spaces. It is where the heart of Little Italy was and melds into the Lower East Side Bowery-Chinatown. The downtown boom changed lower 5av into a busy designer retail corridor. Up to the early 90s only Barnes & Noble lower 5Av was the major retail presence there, but on every block between 14th to 23 st are nationals such as Zale's, Pier One, GAP, Banana Rep, Club Monaco, Espirit, Lucky Jeans, Restoration Hardware and more, now in the 'downturn' they are in flux, with a few closings and openings to look for. Equally jarring on the upper W Side, Broadway [Zabar's county + north continues to lose local service and specialty shops to increasingly more upscale national chains.

Hot L Manahatta

"[B]y and large, it's never been cheap to rent a room in Manhattan. In 1968, it cost an average of $21.86 a night, and, 30 years later, the average would cross the $200 threshold, never looking back, save for the two years immediately after Sept. 11." [-T Acitelli, NY Observer APR 30 2007]. "Budget" chains were the only thing that kept Manhattan average room price to just below $200 otherwise record high room rates and profits were in 2000, at top NOV 2007 [$333] with some new very high end rooms skewing it higher by some estimate in 2008. Demand was high enough at top Manhattan hotels they stopped offering included breakfast, use of the spa or gym, broadband or even "last room available" to corporate guests. [-CRAIN's NY Business Sept 17-23 2007] Finally by fall 2008, there were lower average rates and even lower bookings headed into the holidays even though peak "holiday" [Thanksgiving or EARLIER, to New Years] rates are always increased and at all times there may be unavoidable surcharges plus luxe no-choice room amenities and other temptations make actual charges MUCH higher than the simple room rate + hotel tax. This 'bust', while operating costs are still high/increasing and profits are furhter diminished are rate rises in broad range of moderately priced rooms but good discounts on many of the top rooms! With need for ever more tax $$ despite the bust, NYState may increase the hotel tax anyway. To help pay part of the PUBLIC cost est to be $600Mil+ towards Javits convention ctr expansion OKd by Pataki Dec 2004, a $1.50 hotel-key tax surcharge took effect APR 1 2006 [See MORE->]

A boom in planned hotels is finishing its way through as room rates and occupancy peaked at all-time high through 2007 to 'worst' Jan [2009] in years - occupancy dropped to "2003" low-levels and average room rate definitely dropped to just below $200. Bigger rate cuts -some less than half[!] price- are offered in most of the new Brooklyn Hotels, Feb2009. A "shake out" is occuring in the weakest under -capitialsed planned new hotles and ones depending on unsustainable room rates even with those record high rates. Citywide there were [CRAINs NY JUL14-20 2008] 227 NEW 'properties planned which would have boosted total by 57%. The 'surprise' of the article 2/3 of the hotels being built are small limited-service second tier/mid price chains, many in the 'other' 4 boroughs at the edge of manufacturing areas, allowed by ol zoning as-of-righ. In the multiples now being built seeminlgy in clusters, are now unwelcomed by many nearby residents! At the luxe end, 1-29-2008 was announced the Four Seasons downtown, making the number of rooms coming up in lower Manhattan 1,700 planned and 1,972 under construction. Developers cushioned themselves for high costs with an increasing number of condo-hotels and the first NYC time-share "fractional" ownership hotel projects that are upcoming from midtown east to west, from Hilton [w57], Hyatt [5Av-35st] and others. They are joining, for example, successful part-conversions of the Hilton NY and the St. Regis and the Phillips Club near Lincoln Ctr and The Manhattan Club [155w66]. A whole new large tower condo-hotel that is bitterly opposed by some as stretching the law and selling out of the community to a developer's interests, is the upcoming Trump Soho [See More->]. Time-share stays may be entitled to no more than a week, and fractional ownerships are entitled to stay 28 days. Oy. Demand and greed are lead to increasing semi-legal use of regular apartment bldgs for "corporate" apartment leases and illegal transient hotel use. Not surprisingly anymore, there is a cluster of "hot" somewhat expensive hotels on the lower east side, lead by highrise THE HOTEL on Rivington St., smaller ones on Orchard and the large boutique-ish Thompson Lower East Side on Allen St. just south of Houston, summer 2008.

"We" lost the a great deco AUTOMAT bldg on w57 that last housed SHELLYs restaurant until earlier in 2006 this was demolished to be site of a high-rise Hilton Resorts [-why the hell was this not restored and incorporated into the base of the new building!]. The height of hotel closings, mostly for condos was around 2005.

Condo conversions selling are the [Park Hyatt] Stanhope [now 26 luxe condos], [now selling so well after all->] REGENT WALL STREET [1997-Jan 2004] "Cipriani Residences", Gramercy Park, Mayflower [demolished spring 2005, was part of site of 15 CPW luxe condos] and 30 condos within Essex House which Jumeirah [Dubai Investment Group] purchased from Starwood in 2005, In 2008, the Park Lane is being offered [may go condo] as also is the Buckingham [6Av-57st]. The most heralded, expensive and controversial conversion is of The Plaza Hotel. Several condo floors were added on top. [Non-official-]landmark lobby-public spaces were severely altered! The new, smaller, [more expen$ive] had an in-house "soft-opening" NOV 2007 with reservations taken for JAN 1 2008. There are 152 [hotel-]condo suites starting at $1.6mil[+$4,300. month maint] that have max 120 day year total residency allowed [not in one stretch either], and 181 residential condo units in the prime parts of the bldg. Though you "own" it you have to reserve time, and you and the association split any rental [-what kind of crap is that...even worse than a time share?-so is that why most -MAY 2007- residential units are sold but only 205 of the hotel-condo units are sold]

In 2004 [JULY] Schrager's PARAMOUNT was sold to Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos but a renovation/ condo conversion was never done and in mid2007 that whole Hard Rock chain is being sold Spring 2007 was sold again. Schrager s re-fashioned Gramercy Hotel opened AUG 8 2006 [regular rates mid 2007 are up since opening and start at $695] Schrager is also supposed to open a new boutique hotel [maybe 2007] by 2008 in Soho exactly a block north of the Soho Grand.

In lower Manhattan there will not be a replacement hotel on the WTC site but there are several large projects plus many smaller one MANY others in the wider west side area from Lower Manhattan uptown thru Tribeca-to 'W. Soho/Hudson Sq and its Trump Soho tower. The top will [due 2011] 912 ft 80 floor Four Seasons condo-hotel at 99 Church St. towering over the back of the Woolworth Building-design revealed 1-29-2008. Further east are clusters of smaller more economical hotels towards Chinatown / LES and there is another group of LES-E Village fashionista/hipster havens which came on strong since the openings 2005-Rivington St Hotel, 2007-Bowery Hotel in the E Village, late 2008/ early 09 the Thompson-LES [Allen St] and The Cooper Square Hotel [Bowery-5st].

**TIPS** If you have mainly JAVITS Centre business, do stay in NJ along the water near a NY Waterways ferry that connects to the 38st Manhattan ferry terminal, close to the convention center! Or at [Jersey City] HYATT Regency Harborside on the pier, or upcoming early 2009 Westin [Hotel and condos] Jersey City [at "Newport"] take the PATH in if your business is in is lower Manhattan. You will still get an ugly stare from nouveau New Yorkers to suggest staying directly across from Manhattan on the Jersey side as an alternative. A W Hotel and Residences opened in Hoboken and A Westin opened in the made-over section of Washington St in Jersey City. If you have business in North Manhattan or the Bronx, or north NJ and drive in, there is a Hilton just W of the GW Bridge among others west S_W along Rt 4 and the end of I-80, just as there is a cluster of hotels and "inns" near Newark Airport S-W of NYC and adjacent to road network there. Just a slightly adventurous alternative for some visitors looking for rates under $200 are the couple of dozen or so B&Bs in Harlem and Brooklyn - [do a search].

The last full-service very large hotels built here was were the huge Westin 43-8av. and nearby Hilton Times Sq [42st E of 8th on 41-42st] and in lower Manhattan until the huge new Four Seasons [2001] near the WTC is the Ritz Carlton at Battery Park. Large, slightly older theater district high rise hotels 1980s Marriott Marquis and luxe Rhiga Royal on w54 [sold by Marriott spr 2005. Rebranded and renovated opened NOV 2 2006 as "The LONDON"] and more "modestly" priced, popular Holiday Inn/Crowne Plaza. The older large properties in TIMES SQ such as the EDISON on w47 and Milford Plaza on 8Av are basic but budget friendly. The others, and there are MANY, are smaller whether higher or lower-end.

NYC Hotels	Hotel Chatter	hotelscheaper
Hilton Hotels Shoreham SOHO Grand Gershwin 7e27st Girafee Tribeca Grand Trump International Gramercy Park Hotel Abingdon Sq guest house hoteldiscount.com	Lowell 28e63 Millennium Hotel Algonquin 58w44 Night Hotel apple core hotel group the New Yorker Sofitel Hotels Cooper Square Washington Sq Pk Hotel NY Helmsley 212e42st	Embassy Suites Cosmo budget, downtown Chambers Hotel Mercer Hotel Four Seasons 57e57 Chelsea Savoy 7Av-23st -W- QT 125w45st Mad ave/27st mid price boutique! Wellington
OPEN-OPENING *12-2008: NYC raised Hotel tax +0.875% effective JAN 2009* 2010-InterContinental "TimesSq" [8Av-44st] 2009- Crosby Hotel Soho [$525+, Sept 29]..Ink48 [Sept. 48st-12Av was Kimpton "Vu"], Mondrian Soho, Viceroy [Hudson-Charlton], Four Points Sheraton [Charlton-off Varick late 2009..Sheraton, ALoft and Hotel Indigo BK..NoMad [Bway-28st]..ACE [Broadway-29st was Breslin Hotel+SRO]..-W- hotel and condos on Washington St mid 2009, -W- Hoboken APRIL..Feb-new econoboxes->Hilton Gdns Inn 63w35st and Fairfield Inn 330w40, Westin-Jersey City watefront Feb, Smythe Tribeca [not 100% finished-soft opening Feb].. Hotel Reserve [JAN-Nassau-MaidenLn] 2008- Nu Hotel- AtlanticAv-Boerum SEPT. Cooper Sq official opening NOV. Sheraton Four Points downtown OCT. Hampton Inn "Soho" Sept. Thompson LES opened thru JUL-AUG. The Ravel [boutique hotel, LIC QNs] March. 2007- Duane St Hotel DEC, Six Columbus [W Side-OCT], Hotel 373 [5Av-35], Bowery Hotel, Hotel Mela [w44st] 2006- Courtyard by Marriott Yorkville 410e92 [May], NY Marriott Residence Inn 39st-6av JAN [20 floors of a condo tower, separate entrance]..Wingate Inn at 223-35 w35st, 22room BLUE MOON on Orchard St [kosher!], Holiday Inn on Greeley Sq. 32 st. [shhh!-this bldg was infamous Martinique welfare hotel of 1970s-80s] spring 2006 became a Radisson 2005- 2004- Blakely around NOV at 136w55, Hampton Inn [108w24], Sheraton Four Points [160w24], KIMPTON Hotel in NY at 70 Park Av-38st in Murray Hill late July. 2003 and before- Hotel Alex [NOV2003]..60 Thompson [2001] CLOSED-CLOSING: 2008 *Howard Johnson's w34st AUG* PIERRE closed for renovations 2006-Courtyard Marriott new Aug 92st-1Av..The Drake-Swisotel [+ adjacent properties demolished Summer 2007 for condos or mixed-use 70 floor building. Complex $$ project very delayed], Jan The Mark closed on e77 [-118 hotel rms and 42 co ops reopening mid 2008], Plaza Athenee and Eastgate Tower. 2005- The Plaza Hotel closed APR 30..Sheraton Russell [Dec]. 2003 and before- Mayflower __. The Dorsete54st torn down in 2002 or so for the Museum of Modern Art expansion.
Manhattan at Mid West Prices *NYPost 2-10-04 said "Best Budget Hotel" is not only cheap and has character is East Village Bed and Coffee 110Av-C [but shared baths and common areas] or their more private "Second Home" on 2av* *Jane [St.] Hotel [$99+ sleeping compartments, shared bath only] re-opened AUG 2008 after decades of Welfare Hotel and [still some] SRO use.* *LEO House $90 shared to $190 family room] 23st E of 8Av offered short stay sleeping hotel rooms since the late 1990s or so after being just an old-fashioned women's rooming house.* Midtown at "less than $200." POD Hotel opened JAN 2007-was formerly the Pickwick Arms-* *Two budget choices to beware of are the tattered rooms at the Hotel Pennsylvania and the Carter [-oops 1-27-2009 "..dirtiest hotel in America."..again] on 43st [7-8Ave]. How about E Village at less than $200 3Av-St Marks [Hotel]* Unless there is a crash, 2008 or 2009 its going to be torn down for a large office tower by 2011, with retail at the base.* *Old tenement-style rooms at 100 Orchard Blue Moon Hotel, 22 rooms across the street from the tenement museum opened Spring 2004.* *The Harlem, West Side and Vanderbilt Y have rooms starting well under $100.* HOSTELS have a presence for first time in NYC..there was only 1 ol place the Hosteling International New York, with 64 rooms for years and years, but mid2007 there were 2,000 hostel beds. BEWARE of ILLEGAL hostels $15 to $40 /nite in Manhattan. They have fire violations and do not operate lawfully so are not charging the hotel tax. Cheapest legit hostel could be JAZZ Hostels 3 locations with bunk area beds was less than $25 or newer [JULY 2008] E Williamsburg NY Loft Hostel [VaretSt- ] 56 bunkhouse beds are $29. These prices are lower than increased number of rooms rental in persons apartments [legal or not] being offered thru websites [like AirBnB.com], doing this to make $$ instead of havng rent parties The bottom of the barrel below hostels are $28 cubicles at Whitehouse on Bowery in LAST flophouse there, still are about 2 dozen long-term umm floppers there [probably in their own area] all until the new developer-owner can empty all or tear down the place legally. Others to note are Broadway Hostel and Hotel with relatively low-price private rooms is well-known to young international travelers, opened near the end of 2006 and American Dream Hostel and Central Park Studios [LexAv]. Owners of many are primarily new smaller developers...over time these people could cash out to convert or tear down these properties.* *NOT for overnight, YELO [315w57st] for cushy power naps and optional refloxology opened SPR 2008 first of 3 planned NYC locations, more spartan MetroNaps opened APRIL 2004, 24fl Empire State bldg $14 for 20 min. in a pod-chair.*
Site See
Circle Line Zipover Helicopter/ Cruising FROM NY	Day Line Jun-Sept Tourcaster podcast ny gallery tours	NY Waterways ny [bus]sightseeing city sightseeing
FreeNYC big Onion walking tours Brooklyn Tourism	Time Out NY All-NY Site Big Apple Greeters	Rock Ctr Observation deck Phillip Johnson Glass House [CT] Brooklyn Walking Tour
Getaway. AIRLINK opened Dec 2003 improved travel to JFK, but you must transfer from [LIRR] commuter rail-with steps in between AT Jamaica, or subway [stairs a given] is necessary. NO combination railroad-Airlink ticket is sold. A separate ticket is needed. Other NYC visitor infrastructure is sub par and outdated, especially the large but poor passenger conditions on transit, but also such facilities such as the 3 NYC Passenger Ship Terminal 1970 vintage piers on the Hudson. Local cruise have thus mostly moved on to Bayonne, Brooklyn [even for Queen Mary 2!] - and Philadelphia! [See MORE-> on NYC cruise terminals].

"High demand and aggressive pricing have pushed the price of many second and third-tier Manhattan hotels like Sheratons, Hiltons, Radisons and Marriotts over $500 a night for business travelers. The Times Sq Hampton Inn even quoted rates over $500. [week night stays] [-New York Redefines 'Luxury', Wall St Journal 6-12-2007] *WESTIN Hotels in US - NO SMOKING starting JAN 2006* *Less than 20 hotel swimming pools in NYC* *Late 2010 or early 2011 -new utterly fabu "21 Hotel" or whatever, by owner of "21" Club" 'Orient-Express Hotels' 53st across from MOMA [-yes they will demolish ol DONNELL Library and put in a new one-] will be linked to "21" directly behind. $700-$2,000 night.*

Just a few blocks north of the Gansevoort and Maritime and up thru the Garment district, mostly by two particular developers McSam Group and Lam Group opened from 2004 on, a flood, of now [2008] over a dozen new mid-price [now for NYC is anything under $300] mid block hotels, actually, all NOT full-service hotels. Another Hampton Inn opened approx fall 2005 near South St Seaport, joining their 1st in Manhattan in Chelsea.

While the new mid-price generic boxes were plopped down "quietly" on side streets [don't pay for publicists and celebs], a flood of new luxe small boutique hotels opened the such Library [41st-Lex], Giraffe, Hotel 41 [41 St. off 7 Ave.] European-style boutique Hotel 47 and new Dream Hotel 210w55 [220 rooms op. Oct 2004] and a downscale boutique QT Hotel Times Square opened to the R. DeNiro backed "Greenwich" which opened SPR 2008. You can stay in Chelsea without being at the new pricey Maritime Hotel in far W Chelsea or the Gansevoort in the far W Village-Meat Market [to be joined by new "Standard" Hotel by 2007 on w13 at Washington]. One of the earliest Chelsea properties in the 90s was the Chelsea Savoy at 23st-7av.

Many mid-price "Inns" or extended-stay style rooms with kitchenettes [they can be from $300+] came by late 2005-early 2006 in midtown west with new Comfort Inn [305w32], and another Howard Johnson at 449w36 all under construction[-Crain's NY Business July 11-17 2005]. Holiday Inn Express 15w45 [opened OCT 2005] A good bet in the Penn Station Area are the New Yorker-Ramada Plaza at 8 Av-34st and the worn-out Hotel Pennsylvania - beware of it despite old name and low rates. There are other budget [relatively] choices at the edge of gentrified "Hell's Kitchen" such as the Howard Johnson's when opened was $160+ night- [was rebranded or sold 2008 is The GEM], and a Days Inn, and the Holiday Inn on w57st.

BROOKLYN "The NY Marriott at Brooklyn Bridge was first new hotel in Brooklyn since THE war when it opened [mid 1998] in downtown Brooklyn; its long-planned 24fl addition opened OCT 2006 and a SHERATON Brooklyn mid 2009 [DuffieldSt up from Fulton St]. The next major/luxe hotel in Brooklyn will be [was The Smith] "Nu" Hotel in part of a condo bldg at Atlantic opened summer 2008 and by 2009 an Cambria Suites Brooklyn Bridge 300 rms at 75 Schermerhorn and even a -W- hotel and condo on Flatbush Av! nearby and "Indigo" on Duffield St. also due approx 2009. Three small/ mid brand mid-high rise properties are open and 5 more [mid2008] are in planning or construction in the small Gowanus [near the canal; the west industrial edge of Park Slope off 4 av] area: the local councilman is so alarmed by this he wants a moratorium on more hotels until comprehensive rezoning is done. These are NOT tourist viable locations; the concern is over loss of industrial space, possible condo conversions! Hotel LeBleu 370 4Av [originally was called "G-Slope"] an 8-floor, 48-room "extended stay," boutique hotel [$300+] is the most pricey of the lot. Being in this manufacturing zone means hotels can be built without public reviews required in commercial-residential area. Elsewhere in BK a Best Western opened in Sheepshead Bay.

BathroomDiaries and diaroogle.com. You need a guide?

As an MTA spokeperson said at the ceremonial opening of new $91million Yankee Stadium /153 St. train station MAY 21 2009 to justify the lack of restrooms, "...all our trains" have them." Welcome to NY. Hold it in. YES it is such a problem in NYC to "go", that it IS a big deal that CHARMIN [Proctor+Gamble] opened a 20-stall, free, attended, bathroom on TIMES SQ [46st] in 2006 and similarly each year so far since [8am-11pm NOV 23 thru New Year's Eve 2009] as a promotion. The rich do not have to worry about going to the bathroom in NYC. They have private clubs, gyms, fancy shops, pied a terres and other rich friends in town. The rest of us do.

Fast food places and restaurants under a certain size are not required to provide bathroom and they usually are really dirty. Only 2 new pay public toilets due under the city contract with CEMUSA are wer installe, so now the program is years behind [See MORE->] and running into opposition such as one for Tribeca at Washington Market Park. Mostly forget about public govt offices because of security requirements. Though the Parks Commissioner said [July 2005] city-wide there are 11 new stations plus 35 have been renovated over the last few years, at the announcement of a new comfort station funded for Little Bay Park [Qns] that WAS desired by the locals. Central Park has some, the best was *IN* Tavern On the Green which kept their agreement to let you in for being on public property- but new operator will build a new concession out back w/ other public restrooms. Nearly unique of NYC, there are others throught busy parts of the Park, look for the various pavillions and concessions or ask a volunteer or Parks Enforcement. And note TimeWarner Ctr. is across from the S/W corner of the Park. ' Renovated vintage Beaux-Arts style Bryant Park loos at 42st are busy but excellent. It reopened APRIL 4 2006 after being closed since the mid 1960s until the Bryant Park Restoration Corp took over management of the park. The Daily News based on bathroom diaries web site, listed a couple of playground bathrooms, but I am suspicious. People fight to keep restrooms from playgrounds etc. and ones that stay open days in play areas are gated and enforced children and their guardians ONLY. Residential neighborhoods are truly mostly impossible.

So join a good gym chain, a bit pricy if you do not work out, though. The bathroom diaries site also lists Old Navy stores and even Police Pcts.! Department stores are OK [esp for women] if you are near one and are patient to find the bathroom. Better now for a quick in and out are the many Barnes& Noble large bookstores which are open to at least 10pm most days, or even Home Depot and such. Average stores and restaurants are no good anyway and will not let you beg your way in. Rockefeller Center is a poor choice with about usually one open of out of more than one existing and that may be hard to find. Grand Central is handy, but its huge ol bathrooms are gone, and 2 sets of new small ones at food area even have the MEN waiting on line. Penn Sta AMTRAK main level restrooms are handy but foul; use the newly renovarted LIRR [at waiting area] restrooms which opened end of OCT 2009.

The best of any subway bathrooms now are new one at Times Sq.-7Av [renovated mid 2004] area-has an attendant. The rebuilt Coney Is-Stillwell station is also if your are there, perhaps a reasonable pit stop. But only 58 of 77 subway station bathrooms remaining are open and MAY 2008 MTA started to CLOSE them midnite-5am for 'cleaning access. 34St Partnership toilets have Euro-style vending restrooms at Greeley+Herald Square. Washington Sq. bathrooms are for the desperate ONLY and may not be open at times. If you are FAR west downtown into the early evening and can take the walk, the Chelsea Piers and Hudson River Park have some facilties, but the busy West [or even East] Village late night is really tough unless you are out drinking [slef-defeating problem..]. Lower Manhattan is tougher- South St Seaport only has a set of restrooms outside near the piers and 1 set ONLY on 2 fl of Pier 17 so try 24-hour Staten Is. Ferry Terminal. Probably the library has a place to go.