The mayoral candidates: do they have Patience and Fortitude?

DON'T SHHHHH!

 

Why did the WSJ publish a benign, aw-shucks type of piece on the New York Public Library ("NYPL") "becoming enlightened" and deciding to roll three libraries into one - the "dilapidated" Mid-Manhattan Library as well as the Science, Industry and Business Library into the Schwartzman Library across the street - instead of tearing apart the historical bookshelves (which, oh yeah, are the structural support holding up the ceilings) and rebuilding the...well, buildings? It is smarter than having to defend their actions against two lawsuits brought by scholars and preservationists, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, aiming to block the stacks' destruction. I *think* they're trying to say "We're listening [after we've been legally wrestled to the floor]." But does the NYPL honestly think we don't know how valuable NYC real estate is - and we won't wonder how much the "dilapidated" library buildings will sell for?

"Mr. Marx [Anthony Marx, President of the NYPL] has said such a project would require closing the busy Midtown branch for two years—a scenario that would cause significant disruption for patrons. But in the documents provided to the state, the library acknowledged that it could renovate the branch while keeping it open. That would increase the estimated cost of renovating that building to $180 million from $130 million, it said."

So, where are all the people who need the library supposed to go for the next two years? (Could this be the time to discover the "Outer Boroughs"...? *smirk*) And, given the cost, I have to wonder how many more proposed alternatives there'll be. And where the $ from the building sales will go. For an interesting take: google Citizens Defending Libraries and see "The Truth About the Central Library Plan": www.savenypl.org/the-truth-about-the-central-library-plan/

NOT EVERYONE OWNS A COMPUTER - OR A KINDLE OR NOOK OR SMART PHONE

And, considering the attempted closing and sales of numerous borough libraries [to condo builders, etc.], this is not the most important subject heading on Dewey's decimal list - at least for all of NYC. But then, Mid-Manhattan is a more high-profile branch than those in the outer boroughs - which makes it sexier news. Explain that to a new immigrant's kid who can't do her homework because her family can't afford a computer at home and her library is closed. (And both her parents work, so they can't take her to Manhattan every day to do her homework.) Or a senior who lives on a fixed income and wants to keep active in life while doing everything to ward off Alzheimer's - like using his brain by reading.

  PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Anyway, if you're angry over the idea that there might not be libraries anymore or tired of politicians messing up what works for NYC, here's the 411 on things to do:

Citizens Defending Libraries ("CDL") and The Committee to Save the New York Public Library are cosponsoring a 

MAYORAL FORUM ON PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Friday, August 30, 8:30-10:30 AM
Doors open at 8:00 AM, first come first serve
Kane Street Synagogue
236 Kane Street, Brooklyn (Between Court St and Tompkins Pl. F or G trains to Bergen, or any train, East or West Side, to Borough Hall, plus a 10-minute walk.)

Candidates will be asked to explain their positions on the Central Library Plan, the sale of publicly-owned library buildings for private development, and the reduction in library services across the city. CDL needs you to show up so you can tell the candidates to save our libraries!

CDL is excited to have confirmed a space for a public advocates and comptrollers forum with one candidate accepting so far for Wednesday, September 4th, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

NAKED!!!

Is this another Miley Cyrus stunt? [And why would CNN and the WSJ think Miley Cyrus was important enough to comment on...? Like I said in my previous post, the Summer - and the op of hearing anything remotely interesting - is definitely winding down. Eek.]

No. It has to do with the lawsuit won against Naked Juice that claimed to be "natural", but wasn't. If you purchased Naked Juice, you can file a claim: https://www.nakedjuiceclass.com/FileClaim/UnknownClaim

RAW!!!

Is it sushi? No.

It's a trend in food. Don't "ick" until you try it. Gourmet dishes that tickle the tastebuds and are so filling even football players would - well, the entrees would probably make fine appetizers for the gridiron folks, but definitely satisfy our hunger. So go ahead and eat dessert!

My fav: Rockin' Raw on Sullivan Street!

FASHION PREVIEW?

As we New Yorkers anticipate Fashion Week (September 5-12), I thought I would bring you a preview. So I attended a "Mix and Mingle" MeetUp the other night at the sensational Skyroom Rooftop of the Fairfield Inn & Suites, ostensibly to see and photograph their fashion show. Really. Now, MeetUp is hardly a New York-centric phenomenon, but it is a way for intensely-focused careerists to unwind and *possibly* meet someone of like...mind, I guess. But the idea of actually meeting someone was a vague thought - really - compared to my zeal to get us all primed for the big doings next week.

Weeeell, here is the best shot. You tell me... 

And, funny enough, I did meet someone. It just goes to show ya - 

JUST SHOW UP!

     I

    
       on


                                New York

This is the perfect time - even if a lot of New York City and most of Europe are on vacay - [Jon Stewart: the movie you are making is very important, but you weren't here during the first Democratic mayoral candidates debate?! Where is our satire on the not-so-dog-daze of August?!] for the NYC primaries - and my new blog "I on New York." Hey, we've pretty much run out of things to talk about at the water cooler, anyway...(Tennessee Woody Williams' A Streetcar Named Blue Jasmine? Are the Yankees and Mets gonna be in the playoffs? Snow White and the Huntsman looping through the HBO channels? Does anyone even remember hearing about the Shakespeare-in-the-Park this Summer - Hamish Linklater played a lead.)

 

As previously mentioned, we have the primaries coming up and, in a last-ditch effort (before he's finally ditched), lame-Scrooge McDuck Mayor Bloomberg is getting his last corporate "quacks" in by encouraging voters to de-fund and de-Friend[s of] the NY Public Library. Why close public libraries? Well, in the case of Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, and Pacific Street, they want to build condos - and that's just in Brooklyn. ("Follow the money.") Disappearing libraries, shrinking libraries, disappearing school librarians - and now Bloomberg is pushing for a waiver so schools won't have to have librarians in their libraries any more. Citizens Defending Libraries ("CDL") is a grass-roots committee of dedicated, passionate people who work on campaigning and petitioning, among other efforts, to save New York City's libraries from de-funding, shrinkage, and sell off to developers. 

Check out their website (http://citizensdefendinglibraries.blogspot.com/2013/07/citizens-defending-libraries-questions.html), then head over to the Mayoral Forum on Public Libraries at the Kane Street Synagogue, 236 Kane Street, Brooklyn on Friday, August 30th, 8:30-10:30 am. Candidates will be asked to explain their positions on the Central Library Plan, the sale of publicly-owned library buildings for private development, and the reduction in library services across the City.

Jobs are coming back - yes, they are...slowly - and even reasonable (well, over $1,200/ month) apartments are opening up.

And then, Fashion Week is just around the corner. Might as well look like the savvy, put-together people that we truly are while we sign petitions, vote, and job hunt. Now, I've actually invested in the high-low (short in front, long in back) skirt  fashion, but folks need to really work at the "simple short skirt under the filmy maxi skirt" look. Otherwise, it just looks like they're wearing a slip. Now, if you're gonna go there, wear a lacy one: at least it's interesting. Military jackets are back. And I'm getting a kick out of those over-the-knee boots (Shades of "Kinky Boots," the Tony-award winner...) and "new" laced-up, heeled boots: just in time for this early Fall weather. But watch out for the ones that resemble the ugly black clunkers that went with the old nuns' habits! Structured handbags, both large and small, chain-strapped mini purses, and large-and-small clutches round out the picture.

Aren't subways strange enough without some I'm-a-sun-bleached-blond-Yalie-sculling-type-college-boy getting all up in my lap because he offered me the seat in front of The Map, sat next to me, did the I'm-a-man-ling-with-broad-shoulders challenge thing (I'm petite...he had the agenda.), and then proceeded to twist his body all over his seat -and me - until I got skeeved out and left. Really?  ON A SUNDAY NIGHT?

Ok, foodies: squash blossoms are in the farmers' markets all over the City. Try 'em in an omelet. And there's a little booklet called "Union Square 2013 District Deals" that they're giving out in - where else? - the Union Square/14th Street area that has nifty little coupons to places like the Gramercy Terrace and City Crab, among other places.

And don't be too disgruntled when you hear your office mate's recitation of every little pit stop on her/his trip. Not only do New York State hiking and vineyards and Long Island beaches beckon, you can still fit in a long weekend - conveniently, one is coming up - at the newly rediscovered Toronto. *Perhaps* it's the new Europe? Many places to see and things to do, including the Royal Ontario Museum ("ROM"), Saks [Fifth Avenue]'s Canadian store, the Entertainment District (which draws upwards of 30,000 clubbers on any given Saturday night) - and don't miss the "beaches."               
                                                            
So, as I endeavor to inform and amuse, inspired and in awe of Aaron Sorkin's amazing HBO offering The Newsroom (Stick with it: it grows on you.), I say: Go forth! It's a long Winter.