Vanishing New York Backup

Crain's published an article this month on "the masters of derailing projects in the city." I haven't derailed anything, regrettably, as much as I've tried, but they included me on their list anyway -- along with a number of folks who are getting stuff done. NIMBYs? "Anti-change activists"? Are these the right terms for people who aim to preserve the character of New York City? Here's my bit: The shadow player Mr. Berman is one of the most visible anti-development activists. Others, like Jeremiah Moss, operate in the shadows. Mr. Moss uses a fake name and refuses to have his picture taken, yet his blog, Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, has become the go-to hub for those who lament New York's loss of character. Mr. Moss uses his online following to stage attention-grabbing theatrics, like hosting a funeral for a beloved 82-year-old shoe-repair shop under threat of closure. He recently shifted tactics from covering the frequent c...

Like old barber shops, I love old shoe repair shops. Every time I see one that looks promisingly ancient and unchanged, I go in for a shine. For years, every time I went by Tony's Shoe Repair on West 35th Street , the gate was down. My timing was never right. And then it was. Currently run by Guy Pisani, Tony's has been around for 81 years--and then some. Their Facebook page reads: "Since 1934 Tony's Shoe Repair has been a family run business in the heart of the garment district on 7th Avenue in New York City. For three generations our family has faithfully served the mid-town area through thick and thin." Mitch Broder explains the lineage: "Tony is the son of Tony, who also isn’t Tony, but who is also the son of Tony, who also wasn’t Tony. The real Tony was the guy who opened the store in 1928 and sold it six years later to another guy, named Gaetano. Gaetano kept Tony’s sign, thus becoming the second Tony and setting the stage for his son Dan and...

Tonight is the last night of the original Duke's "roadhouse" bar in Gramercy. Ken Pierce shares their goodbye email : “To our loyal Duke’s Customers, After 20 years in the Gramercy Neighborhood, we are closing our doors at the end of the summer. Thank you for all the great times throughout the years. Our Murray Hill location at 860 Third Avenue will remain open and we hope to see you there for more of your favorite food, drinks, staff and good times.” Are we seeing a mass die-off of the urban faux-roadhouse and honky tonk? First Rodeo Bar was booted by a rent hike, then Hogs & Heifers by a massive rent hike, and now Duke's, for reasons as yet unknown. They were all in their 20s. When will Trailer Park succumb? Can't say I was ever a big fan of Duke's. It was, for a brief time, an after-work spot when I worked near there. That's about it. New York describes the place: "The kitschy touches at Duke's begin right at the door, where a ...

Across 48th from soon-to-vanish Rudy's Music Stop , more is vanishing from this little old block. Earlier this spring, the Smiler's deli on the corner of West 48th and 7th Avenue closed. The building was purchased by SL Green for $41.1 million. Wrapped in black netting and scaffolding, it has been demolished. There used to be several Smiler's all-night delis in the city. Now there are only a few. In the 70s, this one was an Orange Julius and The Doll theater-- LIVE ACTS ON STAGE SEEING IS BELIEVING! Constructed in 1927, it was a nice-looking building, too. photobucket The little old buildings to the east of this one--down to what was Manny's Music--have all been acquired by the Rockefeller Group . The Post reported that SL Green will build a three-story building on the corner . Others have speculated that he'll buy out Rockefeller's parcel and put something enormous here. Winick has the rendering: "over 5,400 SF of brilliant, high-resolut...

There's been all this panicked talk recently about an increased visibility of homeless people. The neoliberal media is worried about a return to the city's "bad old days." Mayor de Blasio just sent a swarm of NYPD to guard Tompkins Square Park from the people who sleep in it. Again, there has been no recent spike in the homeless population--the massive increase happened under Bloomberg's stingy policies. They're just not getting hassled, dragged away, and imprisoned like they were under our previous two mayors. The homeless have always been with us. Which brings me to a 1960 essay by Jack Kerouac, " The Vanishing American Hobo ." Wrote Kerouac, "The American Hobo has a hard time hoboing nowadays due to the increase in police surveillance." Prosperous towns "don’t want old bums any more." Bums, hobos, homeless--they don't vanish because the city takes care of them, giving them psychiatric care and affordable housing. They...

In May, I reported that Chelsea's wonderful La Taza de Oro had been shuttered for a month , due to problems with the neighboring building and Con-Ed's intensified restrictions and regulations enforced after the Second Avenue gas explosion. Now I've heard some good news. When recently checking in on the place, I chatted with a man who seemed to know what he was talking about. He told me, "We're opening in November." Keep your fingers crossed.

Harlem's M&G Diner shuttered back in 2008 when the beloved soul food restaurant went on vacation and never returned. It had been around for maybe 40 years. Most of the antique signage was removed and the spectacular facade was made miserably dull. Now reader Christina Wilkinson sends in a shot of the new business in the space. It's called Capsule . They sell men's "streetwear," brands like G-Star, Billionaire Boys Club, Ralph Lauren. Christina Wilkinson Photographers James and Karla Murray took before-and-after photos of M&G awhile back. James and Karla Murray : Click photo to enlarge In the older shot, the façade is resplendent, its red awning announcing SOUL FOOD in a typeface slightly serifed, while above, neon signs fringed in lights deliriously announce “Southern fried chicken” that promises to be “old fashion’ BUT Good!” (The letter “i” is dotted with a star.) Is the “BUT” meant to mean “nonetheless,” to say that while the chicken is ...