Wednesday, March 4, 2009

*Everyday Chatter

One blogger tackles Bourdain's Disappearing Manhattan and wonders why Vongerichten and other high-enders weren't included as endangered species. [Murr]

Check out the Tenement Museum's new blog.

Woody Allen's "Whatever Works" to open Tribeca Film Fest--the film features many sites around the Lower East Side.

Boogie says goodbye to another Bowery tenement falling to make room for another Bowery art gallery tower. [BB]

Etherea records, almost saved, now vanishing again. [Stupe]

Saying farewell to Chico of the LES. [12oz] via [EVG]

Union Square Virgin Mega space a bargain--the rent just dropped by millions. [NYP]

Simon Houpt wonders if the downturn will save NYC's creative people or just keep on bleeding them out. [G&M]

"With the economy in shambles and so many people losing their jobs and homes, it is no longer considered cool to brag about possessions and purchases." [CNN]

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Regarding the downturn being a silver lining for the creative community... As one of those members of said community, I am optimistic, but not so sure.

New York once thrived as an artistic haven because there was plenty of outlets for creative output... either literally on the street or within offices. That's no longer the case.

Starving artists notwithstanding, MANY of the jobs that employed creatives have simply disappeared thanks to the internet. New York's role as the media capital is declining. The publishing industry which constantly required output from tons of staffed and freelance illustrators, photographers, writers, etc has been hobbled and is falling quickly. And I know many photographers and designers, stylists, etc who could make a decent-to-good living from the now marginalized recording industry. Not to mention the sagging music publications which was another source of income. These were good paying gigs that have essentially VANISHED and will absolutely not return.

And of course the other industries that hire creative types (fashion, advertising, television) are also victims of the recession.

And fine artists and musicians no longer have the same level of access to loft/work spaces as they did as little as a decade ago. Either those spaces have fallen victim to gentrification, mallification, or are increasingly rare or cost prohibitive.