Vanishing New York Backup

Now that Rosie & Ting's Chinese place is closed , the Mensans have had to move their "Friendly Friday" to Panchito's. You'd think geniuses would gather at a venue with a less silly name (though it did used to be the Fat Black Pussycat )... ...What is happening on this corner (10th St and 4th Ave) anyway? Next door Academy Records has closed, too, moving to 12th Street. Do I smell a big fat BANK coming down the pike? Doesn't take a Mensan to figure that one out. This corner is, after all, directly across the street from the Green East demolition where a hotel is rumored to sprout ... ...But I could be wrong. My prediction about a bank coming to the spot currently being vacated by the Galaxy bodega may have been off the mark. Last night the man behind the Galaxy's counter told me a barbershop is coming . A barbershop? What is this, 1954? Could it be true? In other chatter... Not everyone's happy about a big ugly box blocking their view of the Brook...

Which bank will it be moving in to the Big-Box Chelsea on 16th and 8th? Round and round she goes...and the winner is...Bank of America! (Thanks to the tipster who sent me this link .) Too bad, I was really hoping for a Commerce--those peppy little Commerce mascots make great punching bags. Don't forget to visit Sucelt today to say goodbye and tell the newscameras you're mad as hell. You might even get a vintage Sucelt t-shirt. North Fork is coming to the former site of BBQ on University and 8th, and an angry citizen has taped up a few signs, complete with enraged yellow highlighter and initial caps. It's a good start--but maybe writing it in acid on the glass would send a stronger message. Our side needs more criminals.

For many beloved New York businesses death comes without much fight. In Bob Arihood's excellent East Village blog, Neither More Nor Less , he has a story this week about the impending eviction of Whole Earth bakery. He writes about how, the last time Whole Earth faced eviction, the community rallied and won them an extension. Such battles can be won again if people continue to fight. Evidence for that is found in the wonderful short film Twilight Becomes Night by Virginie-Alvine Perrette. In it, the filmmaker profiles several small New York businesses that suffer in the city's over-success. There is much in the film to cry about and, at the end, I had tears in my eyes, but there is also something to celebrate: Independent Suba Pharmacy faced eviction twice, and twice its customers fought--and won--using petitions, boycotts, rallies, even phone calls to the bank that planned to move in, saying, "We will not use your services." The bank backed off. Suba still stands. F...

photo of Jehnny Navarro: The Villager I had lunch today at Sucelt. With just over a week to go before they close on Christmas Eve, each lunch feels like the Last Supper. I ordered extra plantains, just to get as much as I could. I also placed an order for a dozen beef empanadas, for freezing and reheating after Sucelt is gone. Like Romy Ashby said in a recent interview , when your friends are dying "you want to sit by their bedsides and tell them how much you love them." Friday 12/14 is a good day to visit the deathbed of Sucelt and show it some love. Jehnny the owner told me that Channel 4 News will be there sometime around or after 4:00 , and she would like to urge her fans to show up and tell the cameras how important such places are to the people of the city . (Call first to make sure it's happening: 212-242-0593.) Her mother will be there, too, the original Sucelt. And Jehnny is going to try and find some Sucelt t-shirts to give away. She says, "I'll be cryi...

Remember those kids who like to hang out on the new condo at 18th and 8th? Now they've started stabbing each other down the block, in front of the site for the new Big-Box Chelsea . The street yesterday was littered with blue rubber EMT gloves and wet splashes, but according to the news , the kids are alright: The removal of some facade junk at a Times Square Building reveals "Toys Souvenirs" sign in an interesting typeface--1970s/early 80s is my guess: This t-shirt logo really says it all. New York is one big Starbucks :

Yesterday I posted on the decapitation of the Playpen . Here's more news about the hotel that's coming to take its place. [Curbed] Wait--it gets worse: The Playpen is not just decapitated. It's dead. [Curbed] Basquiat graffiti discovered in Soho condo conversion? [1010wins] Take a look at some of New York's last racing pigeons . [NY Times] Can't wait for I Am Legend? Hungry for a little Manhattan apocalypse ? Get ready with a peek at Hollywood's love affair for destroying New York. [Bowery Boys] Welcome to SuburbiAstor Place. Now that Walgreens is open for business , we've got a chain trifecta. There are 4 clones in this photo, can you find them all? 14th Street is getting another giant chain drugstore . Between 1st and 2nd, where Gristede's once was, so shall Duane Reade be -- according to the demolition/construction guy I talked to this morning on the scene: It's this time of year when I most miss Kurowycky Meats . They always had a warm, welcom...

News that the bank branch boom may be slowing down is music to my ears, but it comes too late for many. The Rockaway Sunset Diner, formerly the Ram's Horn diner, was long a meeting place for the people of Rockaway. Different classes and ethnicities mixed and mingled there over pancakes and hot cups of coffee. In 2001, after the plane crash that devastated its community, the diner provided free food to rescue workers, and residents gathered there for comfort and connection. The diner was demolished and in its place an HSBC bank is now rising. One descendant of Rockaway told me, "It was called the Sunset Diner because it was right on the ocean, where you could sit and eat and watch the sunset. No one goes to a bank to see the sunset." No one goes to a Duane Reade to see the sunset either, but now the people of Rockaway can do both, side by side. Aren't they lucky? Diner to close Diner's last day Comfort Amid Tragedy video Crash Walk down Beach 116th