today
The old stand was scruffy and stuffed full of stuff. It had add-on walls and signage.
my flickr, 2007
Again, we've lost an individualized piece of New York street architecture. It's happening piece by piece by piece.
my flickr, 2008
See also:
Union Square Newsstand
Jerry's Newsstand
& Lots more about Bloomberg's destruction of the old newsstands
I'm always amazed when I spot one that hasn't been Cemusa-d.
ReplyDeleteNYC: Character NOT Welcome
soon, there won't be any more news'papers' to be sold on those stands; just ereaders. and those stands will be a hub/port where people can download their podbooks in that box. so, that shiny but drab, bland, and 'cold and robotic' cemusa box is a harbinger of the future of how we'll be reading getting our news
ReplyDeleteI think they should remove all cigarettes, soda, and snickers bars from those cemusa robots, and use that extra space for artisinal cupcakes and soy lattes.
ReplyDeleteThey are just not going fast enough yet in turning NYC into a midwestern upper middle class suburb; cmon Mike B and company, get moving - there are still some faint traces of NYC character left just waiting to be obliterated.
going to shiny clean Copenhagen soon. Have a feeling that's where we're headed. Shiny, clean, non offensive, all smells and odors removed. Death of the city not far away...
ReplyDeleteThat happened a couple of weeks back. I'm friends with the brothers who work the stand (I live right near it).
ReplyDeleteThe long-running D'Agostino's up the street just closed as well.
This post (and it's discussion) reminded me of a commercial I had the misfortune of catching on TV last night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vqeXaa1pw8
ReplyDeleteTo me this type of marketing, in which existing customers are rewarded with a sense of superiority while another potential audience is alienated, seems to be precisely what is happening in New York right now.
I moved here for the individuality and diversity that New York offered, how I hate to see it going away. These generic newsstands represent the modern blandness that is taking this city over.
ReplyDeleteMakes you wanna throw up, yechhhh!!!
ReplyDeletethat Kindle ad makes me want to go on a shooting spree. it basically says, "if you love real books, you're a loser."
ReplyDeleteJames, what you say is right on about superiority. more and more narcissistic bullshit coming our way.
Hate these things. One appeared mid-block on Ninth (Brooklyn) recently, when there's the great S&P newsstand just down on the corner. No comparison.
ReplyDeleteoh come on.. I'm all for keeping 'old New York' but the previous newstand was literally falling apart at the seams and an eyesore.
ReplyDeleteGood lord. Just watched the Kindle ad and am now vibrating with contempt.
ReplyDeleteDecrepit and falling down, or shiny and slick - I would love if we had news stands of ANY type where I live! I feel like I spend half my life making sure I have exact change for the stupid newspaper vending boxes. (I have a 'thing' against subscribing - don't ask!)
ReplyDeleteThe one at the corner of Montague Street and Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights was replaced last week. And this is at the heart of a landmarked district!
ReplyDeleteThe Cemusa on 9th St. in Brooklyn has been shuttered up for the last few days. Meanwhile S & P, on the corner of 9th & 5th, is chugging along as usual. A little joy in a cruel world!
ReplyDelete