Vanishing New York Backup

Last month we heard that the Paris theater might be closing . Now we hear it's staying alive. Deadline first reported that the theater, "the last great single-screen prestige picture palace in New York," was "expected to shutter in late July or August." Indiewire seemed to seal the deal when they reported: "sources confirm that the Paris will likely close next month," meaning July, because that "marks the end of the lease currently held by City Cinemas." They added, "alternative uses are considered likely for the street-level space at W. 58th and Fifth Avenue." The Paris is one of the last places (on the planet) that doesn't cater to short attention spans. The purple curtains stay closed while the speakers plays jazz, Louis Armstrong, big band. There are no riddles or word scrambles on the screen, and very few commercials. It's pleasant to be there. It would be a terrible shame to lose it. When I visited the th...

Support the great Gem Spa by buying a t-shirt! From Gem's Instagram : "T-shirts can be purchased at paypal.me/gemspa on PayPal and picked up next Thursday evening after 5 PM. Or they can be shipped worldwide at an extra cost. Be sure to include your size." Gem is struggling these days , so even if you can't buy a shirt, go by and grab a coffee, egg cream, Juul, anything and everything helps.

Michael Seidenberg, the proprietor of the great Brazenhead Books , has passed away. According to Facebook updates, he was in recovery from a heart attack and a bypass operation. Family, friends, and fans are sharing memories on Michael's Facebook page . Their words say more than I can about a man that many remember as a one-of-a-kind New Yorker. Brazenhead was a "secret" bookshop housed in an undisclosed rent-stabilized Upper East Side apartment, complete with a twice-weekly salon, open to all who could find it. I was fortunate to visit once before it closed in 2015 . It was a truly magical place.

VANISHING? Book Culture has been on the Upper West Side since 1997, when it was founded as Labyrinth Books. Since then, it has expanded from one to four shops. It's a great local business and much beloved. But now, owner Chris Doeblin has announced in a letter (below) that Book Culture is in danger of closing--but it's unclear why. UPDATE: I spoke with Doeblin about the situation. He told me that his landlords have been "terrific." Columbia University is one of them and "they're trying to keep us open and have made adjustments over the years." Amazon, however, "has just been devastating. A huge number of people shop there without being reminded enough of the value of having storefronts in the neighborhood." The biggest bite, right now, says Doeblin is the 50% increase in wages . "We've not been able to grow fast enough to deal with the increase," he told me, "and we've had to lay people off. But I think we can make...

After going , going , going , Show World is so very gone. On 8th Avenue near 42nd Street, the buildings that made up Show World and its neighboring businesses are wrapped in scaffolding and demolition shrouds. today The interiors have been completely demolished, but the buildings will remain, renovated into something called The Hive, "an $80 million boutique office and retail property, " according to The Real Deal , geared to "attract technology, financial and media tenants." So what else is new? architect's rendering In the Commercial Observer , The Hive speaks for itself, describing itself as "authentic" to the neighborhood. "On the inside," it says, "you will find a hip, urban interior featuring exposed hardwood floors, brick walls and steal columns throughout. The historic character of the building reflects the roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic that defined the success of the many companies that called this neighbo...

VANISHING When the Ziegfeld closed , the Paris became Manhattan's last single-screen movie theater. Now, according to Deadline , it will vanish. It is " expected to shutter in late July , according to the buzz on the Gotham arthouse theater circuit," they write. Located just under Central Park, next to the Plaza Hotel, "The Paris is owned by Sheldon Solow, best known for the prestige building 9 West 57th Street. It has been booked for years by Bob Smerling, who didn’t return phone calls. The presence of throwback houses like The Paris is dependent upon the goodwill of the handful of family owned real estate companies that dominate Manhattan. That theater occupies prime real estate that could most certainly be used for other purposes and draw high rents." This, after the recent loss of Lincoln Plaza Cinemas , speaks to two problems with this city: The rents and the rents. Maybe someone will step up and save this one.

After weeks of being shuttered by the Department of Buildings, and having to sell books on the sidewalk , the Three Lives & Company bookstore reopens today at 10:00 AM. They write, "Although it was a fun change of pace for us to be selling books on the corner during our impromptu Three Lives Sidewalk Shop, and we thank each of you who stopped by – whether to browse the books or just give us some words of encouragement – it is wonderful to be back in our proper space and surrounded by our beloved bookshelves." Now please support them and go buy some books!