Tuesday, May 19, 2009

*Everyday Chatter

On the new book Spent: Sex, Evolution and Consumer Behavior, by Geoffrey Miller: "The grand edifice of brand-name consumerism rests on the narcissistic fantasy that everyone else cares about what we buy." [NYT]

What does it mean when the sellers of half-million-dollar condos start advertising on lamp posts along with all the "Man with Van" and "Lost Parakeet" people?


...not to mention the Dump Bloomberg Now people. Spotted on Fifth Avenue:


East Village and Lower East Side declared a "danger zone" of violent assaults. [EVG]

After the fire, not just one or two buildings will fall--an entire block in Chinatown is slated for the wrecking ball. If you ask me, this stinks of backroom schemes to wipe out a chunk of unprotected neighborhood and put up a glass tower. [BB]

...Downtown Express shows this is the second time this year that 103 East Broadway has been controversially evacuated by the city. It is also the address of former sweatshop.

A first look at the newly reopened Washington Square Park. [WSP]

Looking back at the history of dumbbell tenement design. [Blah]

2 comments:

Barbara L. Hanson said...

I love that block; it reeks of romance for me. Had my first litchi, right off a branch, walking along there. I almost always found something new and wonderful to eat ...and I have to stop now because the thoughts of what will mostly likely replace it are making my head hurt beyond the point of aneurysm. Remember when Bloombastard called Chinatown "underutilized" because there were no high-end stores?

BrooksNYC said...

"Backroom schemes" was my first thought about that doomed block. Thoughts like these, and worse, come too often now.