One of the depressing, self fulfilling myths out there is that mass transit can never be a profitable enterprise and must always be massively subsidized. I did a post a while ago on transit in Hong Kong, a place where a private company runs one of the world’s most efficient and widely used systems while making a bundle of cash at the same time as a major property developer. In fact, the NY system began along the same lines and operated fairly well in it’s infancy until it came up against its communist competitor in the form of Robert Moses and the federal highway system. Before this time, rational links existed between transit modes and development since there was less “free” money out there for projects that could not fund themselves. People built lines where there would be high density development to support the lines–period. The government thought that this was somehow unfair and we are now living with the results.

James Kalm has done it again with two great You Tube videos documenting one of the largest open call art exhibits in the NY area at the small Sideshow Gallery in Williamsburg. The show, now in its seventh year evolved out of a small open call Christmas show, it now includes works by around 300 area artists and takes two weeks to install.

One of the nicest aspects of the show is that it usually includes a cross section of works by both unknown, little known and well known artists like Larry Poons, Chris Martin and Bill Jenson. Its chock full of a lot of great stuff, often hung too high to look at.

Photo from financialhistory.org

After the Sports Museum of America scored its former location on Broadway, the Museum of American Finance has reopened on 48 Wall Street. They’ve taken the word “history” out of their title (I’m guessing to make it sound a little more interesting) and moved to a larger space that includes exhibits, galleries, and a theater.

The Museum is now open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm. Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for students/seniors; kids 6 and under free.

In their neverending quest for the hottest photos and information, paparazzi and reporters flocked to the Broome Street apartment of actor Heath Ledger as soon as it was announced that he was found dead in his bed. Doubtlessly, they were all waiting to catch the pic of the moment, which would fetch thousands– perhaps family or celeb friends, or even the view of the body being taken out to the morgue for the autopsy. And of course, to overhear snippets of otherwise private conversations, giving them “the scoop” to report to readers, listeners, and viewers.

But there were others outside with more adoring motives. Ledger had many fans, not the least among them his neighbors, who said Heath was a fixture in the neighborhood. Heath was a regular guy who walked around the streets of Soho, often with Matilda, his daughter with actress Michelle Williams[their relationship broke up last September]. And, although he is best remembered for his role as Ennis in “Brokeback Mountain”, his last movie won’t be released until Summer, 2008, when Ledger plays The Joker in the latest Batman movie. This is all a terrible tragedy, because we will never see Heath Ledger again, never get to see the wonderful roles he would have brought to life for us in his maturity. Hollywood has lost a great actor, and NYC a distinguished resident.

As I was walking along on my usual route in the East village, I saw a hand-made sign on the window of a primarily carnivorous restaurant that read “proud to present vegan kofte kebab” or something along those lines.

As I kept walking, I saw inside the usual scene of a dead animal carcass on a pole being sliced and put on someone’s plate. And it reminded me that no matter how proud these folks were of their vegan kebabs, I sure as hell wasn’t going to try it anytime soon.

Photo from Wikipages.com

I went to the atrium at 60 Wall Street for lunch today. I first heard about this spot last year when some friends had stumbled on it during their lunch hour. With its free wifi and ample seating, it’s a convenient place for a work break. The tiled walls, high ceiling, and palm trees make this atrium feel a bit calmer than its surroundings. There’s a little deli and ice cream shop there, but the selection’s limited, so I’d recommend bringing your food or stopping by the Cosi right across the street.

Saturday evening five of us decided to meet up for dinner on the LES. I had passed Kampuchea Noodle Bar a few times and thought it a good idea to try it. Having been to Cambodia, I was in love with cambodian food and this would be a good opportunity to try it. However this turned out to be the worst restaurant experience in 10 years of living in NYC.

Ratha Chau: Asshole Chef Image copyrights NYTimes.

Our party of 5 and were seated at a table at the back of the restaurant. We placed our orders and some of us got our drinks. At that point the waitress comes and asks us to move to the cornermost table so that they could seat someone else on ours. The only way to get to that table was for two of us to get up so others could pass behind us.

Also the table they wanted us to move to was for four people and she said we could squeeze in and sit.

All this for the “expected” future customer with no real customer waiting to get a table.

We told her that we did not want to move to that table and if there were other customers, we would gladly get up to let them into that corner table.

So she went and called the assistant manager, who turned out to be a complete jerk. He said that we could not dictate where we wanted to sit and that we had to follow his orders. At this point, however agitated we were getting, we tried our best to keep our cool. He goes somewhere and comes back and says that since we are not ready to move, the chef has said that he will not cook for us. This is the first time we had heard something so ridiculous. And this was after we had ordered drinks and food which would have totalled more than 200$.

The assistant manager then goes away and in some time the chef comes to our table. The chef Ratha Chau was extremely rude, had an attitude and told us that if we are not ready to move where he wants us to move we should leave the restaurant.

And thats what we do. As we leave, he comes out on the side street and starts fighting and cursing us. He tells us that we created a scene in his restaurant and not to come back. It took a lot of effort to not curse back and be the crude horrible person he was. At one point I was sure he was going to hit out at us or something.

I will never go back to the restaurant and urge everyone to do the same.

In living in NYC for ten years and eating in countless restaurants here, this is the first time I have been treated so and have been asked to walk out of the restaurant.

From all the reviews I have read after this incident, the food seems to be OK and is definitely not authentic Cambodian. And the chef/owner really sucks. I would rather have OK food and a great attitude/time than have to deal with the tantrums of some crazy chef.

Suzanne Pleshette film and TV actress, and NYC native, died of lung cancer at 70.. She is best known for her role as Emily Hartley, wife of psychologist Bob Hartley, on the “Bob Newhart Show”. I have fond memories of watching this show on Saturday nights in the 70s, while getting ready to go out with my friends.Most recently, she had a recurring role on “Will and Grace”.

But Pleshette also acted in beach party movies in the 60s. She played the role of Annie, the schoolteacher who rents a room in her Bodega Bay cottage to Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. And she brilliantly portrayed hotelier Leona Helmsley, in a TV biopic about the “Queen of Mean”.

But I remember her best, saying “Oh Bob…”, kissing her hubby, and then rolling over to fall asleep in the 70s bedroom of a Chicago high-rise overlooking Lake Michigan.

Designer & Mom Kate Boyle has a new baby boy for whom she named her company; Dillie (his name is not dillie, it’s Dylan). But so what? Many mothers exist in this world of ours. And many still exist who have named their businesses after their kids. But what there are a few of are designers with organic cotton clothes for babies that I for some reason wish I could wear too.

If you’ve been to Birdbath Bakery on 7th Avenue at Charles Street or sparrowandbull.com then you already know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you’re in what’s the biggest trend in NYC. REALLY NICE CLOTHES for babies.

I don’t think I need to say anymore, the photos speak for themselves. I just wish they had these things back when I was a baby, so that I could show my kids photos from when I was a child…”look at me, I was fashion conscious since birth.”

In a phrase — not good
In a preview to Mayor Bloomberg’s “State of the City” address, ABC’s NJ Burkett said that Bloomberg will not raise property taxes. While that is good news for owners of homes, condos, and co-ops, it’s terrible news in other ways. First, it will mean budget cuts for the city payrolls, i.e. police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other city employees. Which leads to less disposable income, causing belt-tightening. Which eventually leads to less discretionary and luxury spending. Which either leads to less purchases, keeping things like cars and appliances longer rather than replacing them. Which eventually leads to layoffs in the retail sector. Which leads to……..etc,

And all this happens as NYers are looking at higher mass-transit fares, still-expensive gas, and higher tolls on NJ roads. OR, it COULD lead to more buying on credit, and bills they won’t be able to pay later. The ramifications for the NYC Metro area are endlessly scary! But what I question is who were all these people mobbing the Queens Center Mall just before Christmas spending all that money!! I would be interested to know if there are other NYers out there who find this as frightening as I do…