Per-man, per-hour moving war takes strange, hunky twist.

My fascination continues. Spotted on Fourth Avenue:



Meanwhile, thanks to the anonymous commenter Friday for some inside information:

Anonymous said...
Back in the 80s and early 90s I was part of an moving/trucking/van outfit based in the EV. We charged $25-$35/hr for 1 guy and a van, $55-$65 for 2 guys and a van/truck. All other expenses such as flights of stairs, boxes, reasonable mileage around town, tape, blankets etc. were included in the price. We also did a huge number of band jobs--$50/round trip to and from your gig in the city.

We were always busy and had a great crew of people and a really good rep. We also advertised exactly as these companies still do-those flyers bring back memories *sniff*.

Back then we heard plenty of horror stories from people who had made use of these $16/hr outfits because first of all, there were extra charges for EVERYTHING. Even as 1 guy with a van, you make NO MONEY charging $16/hr in this town. That isn't even going to cover insurance for the van and all of the expenses incurred, like parking/moving tickets, supplies, gas, phone, advertising, and the aggravation factor.

[Examples of the aggravation factor--showing up to move someone and finding out they live on the top floor of a 6th floor walk-up and have packed all of their belongings, including their 3 full sets of encyclopedias, into Hefty bags. Or that the person you are trying to squeeze in between 2 other jobs lied about how much crap they have and there is no way you will make it to your next job remotely on time.]

I have a million stories of stuff you can't even imagine from those years.

If you consider that the people who come to move you will be handling all of your personal stuff, it's not always a good idea to go for the cheapest deal. And moving is usually a stressful adventure so unless you count a futon, a hotplate and an autographed poster of Zeppo Marx as your only belongings, set some dough aside and don't forget to tip if they do a good job. Over the course of my time in the biz, we moved some people repeatedly and a great way to develop a relationship is to show that safe transport of you and your most important belongings to a new location is worth more than a couple bucks.

Brazen entry in the per-man, per-hour moving wars

This past summer, I -- exclusively -- was on the front lines covering the ugliest battle this neighborhood has seen since the 10 (or so) FroYo places opened within 50 yards of each other. Yes, of course I'm talking about the per-man, per-hour moving wars.

Just to freshen your memory:







And now! A new player has entered the market, brazenly slapping up these fliers along First Avenue:



Whoa. $22 an hour!? What, does Lindsay Lohan show up or something? These guys been working in, say, Dubai or someplace where they're not in a repression (recession-depression, you know)? Given that gas prices have plummeted and money is tight all around, you'd think people would be charging less, not more. Why wouldn't someone just go to the guy charging $16 an hour? What am I missing?

When 2-3 apartments in the same building just aren't enough

Tom Cruise has reportedly gobbled up five units in the American Felt Building on 13th Street, where he and Mrs. C have been staying of late. "One they use for a gym, and two apartments are for staff." You may now make a "he must have a big staff" joke. Or not. (Page Six)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Noted (ZOMG edition)

Many people are trying to hook up right now...and we're watching, so to speak

What happens when you mash Google maps with Craigslist Casual Encounters? Hookupmaps show where the, uh, hookups are happening right now. (Via BuzzFeed)

So who's trying to hook up right now in the East Village...?

Noted (ZOMG edition)

Yes, yes...several people have told me that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are living in the East Village while she is appearing on Broadway...at the American Felt Building on 13th Street near Fourth Avenue. (Or maybe not!) No shortage of photos of Tom and daughter Suri on the street...here they are on Fourth Avenue via the Vulture.


[Photo by Flynet Pictures]

Posted without comment (or smartass headline)

On Clinton Street near Rivington on the LES.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A short history of subtle butt-in-the-air billboards downtown

Posts that I never got around to, uh, posting this summer (probably for real good reasons)

Finding the lone Norbit fan on Thompson Street (or in the city).



An analysis of a Taco Bell "for sale" sign:


That nice chunk of real estate on Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street --formerly home to a Taco Bell -- has been sitting empty for ages. Maybe it's that inexpensive "for rent" sign with the handwritten phone number that just makes it look, well, cheap. What, you throwing a garage sale or do you want to do some business? The landlord must have thought the same thing! They've now added a new sign! Two of them!

The Grand Opening at 16 Handles on Second Avenue.

Making the sidewalks safe for walking in a gum-free environment in front of Walgreens on Union Square.

Portable, electricity-free air conditioners: The styles trend piece the Times missed.



One-man protest at City Hall.

The neat trail of lottery tickets on 10th Street.

A job for the mattress police on 10th Street.



The disapearance of the rickety fan in front of the bodega on Avenue B next to 7B.

After months of standing on the sidewalk, it was gone.



Helping the New York Post with bad headline puns: So the New York Knicks drafted Italian League star Danilo Gallinari with their first-round draft pick in June. The Post quickly called him "The Italian Hero." Well, to help our tabloid headline writers, here are a few more possibilities for the 2008-09 season:

The Italian Stallion

The Italian Job

Oh, Dani boy

That's Italian!

(After getting ejecting for arguing with a ref) Italian wine

Italian air

That's amore!

Baskotti

Analyzing this Ann Taylor ad on Broadway: Is she falling? (If so, why does she look so happy?) Is she jumping? (If so, what is she jumping into nearly fully dressed?)

BREAKING WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE: Sinkhole filled on Avenue B and 7th Street

EV Grieve's complete sinkhole coverage here.

Is this the leakiest (drippiest?) AC in the EV?

Oh, probably not. But don't be surprised if a car wash opens for business here outside the Christodora.

Drug store celebrity exit wars

Duade Reade has Mario Lopez gracing its exits (and disguising the store's security system). Not to be outdone, Rite Aid (at least the one on 14th Street between Avenues A and B) wants us to smell like David Beckham.

An EV Grieve FYI (AKA, Sunday filler)

At 14 Street and Second Avenue. Back open July 3!



I've long been a fan of the random use of quotation marks on signs and in print...(which is why I'm a big fan of The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks.)



Meanwhile! And how can anyone hate the Colonel? Here's why:

Is this really such a bad thing?

From the wire!

Public bathrooms in NYC subway close at midnight

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City bar-hoppers heading home may want to heed nature's call before getting on the subway - or suffer for the entire ride.

New York City Transit has been shutting the 78 public bathrooms in the subway system between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. for the past few weeks. Officials say the idea is to guarantee cleaning crew access during those hours.

Straphanger advocate Gene Russianoff says the bathrooms should seldom be closed.

Subway riders complain that the timing of the closures coincides with the hours that bars and clubs get out.

Rider Herby Campbell pointed out that the alternative to the public facilities - grabbing a corner for relief - could get you locked up.

They're back!

Last week, the ads with the bikini-clad rum saleswomen were shredded.



Replacement ads went up almost immediately! Someone is hot to sell some rum!

This is exactly the reason why we'll never get a Wal-Mart in this town

Ha on that headline. Anyway, for whatever reasons, the editors at Time Out New York thought it would be a good idea to ask New Yorkers to strip for this week's issue. And there were plenty of volunteers. See for yourself. (Really NSFW.)