Category: Business

No Picnic: Phil Hartman’s Long-Lost East Village

Recently, I had a conversation with Hartman at his Two Boots Pizza in the West Village. This conversation has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.

Former Bayview Correctional Facility Transformation

Construction is officially underway to transform the former Bayview Correctional Facility at 550 West 20th Street into the Chelsea Beacon, a new mixed use building. COOKFOX Architects’ design includes housing, an interior courtyard and a 9,300-square-foot community facility with youth-oriented programming.

My View of the Village

The local pantry at 12 West 11th Street, operated by Ascension Outreach, Inc., continues to serve after more than three decades!

The Pint-Sized Palate — A Kid’s Take on Food — The Velvet Underground

On a Friday night, my parents were already at La Boca, inside the Faena Hotel. They had gone without us, but soon decided my sister, Charlemagne, and I would probably love it too.

Cappone’s on Abingdon Square – OMG

I went into Cappone’s in early March after petitioning with a bunch of candidates at Abingdon Square. I hadn’t noticed it before. I walked in, looked at an amazing array of sandwiches, and ordered one.

My View of the Village

A new Integral Yoga Institute is rising like a phoenix under the direction of Sosie Hublitz, the new CFO and general manager. I had a wonderful conversation with Hublitz who is running this reboot.

The Mayor of West 4th Street

Ali, the smile-beaming mayor of West 4th Street, has been behind the counter since 2007. He knows everyone’s stories and treats the deli like an extension of the living room. Here are my favorite parts of our conversation:

Record Store Day Enthusiasts Explain the Appeal of Vinyl

For the last 19 years, Record Store Day has been a day where staff, artists and customers come together once-a-year to celebrate the unique culture of independent record stores.

The Poorly Planned Planning Meeting

I have a decades-long relationship with 14th Street. In the 1980s, it was a bustling boulevard of electronics shops, wig stores, inexpensive clothing and luggage, and old-school mom-and-pop businesses.