Cops looking for fake cops who tried to rob the Waterfront Spa, which actually isn't on a waterfront

This story is making the rounds today. We spotted it first earlier over at Runnin' Scared. The NYPD are looking for two men they say posed as cops at two spa kinda places, including at the oddly named Waterfront Spa on First Avenue at Second Street. (I mean, the Waterfront Spa technically isn't on any waterfront. No?)

Here's the scheme: On Dec. 1, the men entered the business and allegedly flashed badges while asking to review the spa's license. They also asked to see the spa's money.

The spa worker refused. The two reportedly grabbed her arm and fled. (It wasn't clear from the NYPD if the men kept her arm.) They tried this stunt again on Dec. 12 at a spa on St. Nicholas Avenue.

Police say the suspects are 6-foot black males in their 30s. One of the suspects was caught on video wearing a Yankees baseball cap with a light blue jacket and blue jeans. The other had on a light blue hat with a dark jacket and dark pants.

If you have any information about this, then please Tweet about it. Or write a jokey blog post about it. Then call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

There's also surveillance video via the Daily News ...

What season-ticket holders will be paying next year at Yankee Stadium

The Yankees announced the prices for their 2009 season-ticket plans the other day. As the AP notes, "Even seats behind the outfield fence will be costly at the new Yankee Stadium."

But!

"Behind those four sections of seats, and to the rear of the bullpens closer to center field, are nine sections of bleachers priced at $12, the same as the cost this season in the final year of the 85-year-old ballpark."

Team COO Lonn Trost said other than 4,300 pricy seats, the tickets are "not being raised significantly. And remember, 24,000-plus seats will have no price increase at all."

Individuals game prices haven't been set.

Meanwhile, wonder how much these seats will cost next season:



From That Touch of Mink.

Previous ticket stories on EV Grieve: Go here.

One argument for not mourning the destruction of Yankee Stadium

"The Yankees are pretending that, with a final, unimportant game this Sunday, they’re leaving the house that Ruth built: the majestic stadium that opened back when Harding was president. Wrong. That park died in 1973. In its place is a typical seventies improvisation, gritty, rickety, and ugly, something not built for the ages but just good enough to get us through the bad times." (New York)

At age 98, Bob Sheppard announces his retirement

Whether or not you hate the Yankees, you have to appreciate the iconic Bob Sheppard, who has been the team's PA announcer since 1951. Now, at age 98, he's retiring. Yankee games will never be the same. (Via Gothamist)

A found collection of photos from the 1980s East Village

The Wall Street Journal today has a short feature on Tony Mangia, a photographer who found a long-lost collection of his photos from the 1980s East Village. (He believed the photos were destroyed during a fire.)

His work, he said, is from the Other Paper, a twice-a-month community newspaper that covered the neighborhood from 1980-1982.

The collection ranges from quiet images of dilapidated buildings to the Ninth Precinct narcotics squad (a crew usually donning Yankees caps known on the street as the “Baseball Team,” according to Mr. Mangia) making a drug bust. The images are reminiscent of a time when the city was “dirty, dangerous and way more interesting than today,” Mr. Mangia said.

You can find the article and a selection of the photos here.

EV Grieve FYI

From the Times:

THE Manhattan co-op market has just set a sales record, according to brokers briefed on the sale.
Jonathan Tisch, the chairman and chief executive of Loews Hotels, closed this month on the purchase of a sprawling 14-room co-op facing Central Park, for $48 million, the brokers said. The apartment is on the 11th floor at 2 East 67th Street, one of the monuments to luxury living designed by Rosario Candela in the 1920s.

Wow. Just $8 million more than what the Yankees gave Carl Pavano.

Shop local tonight

Via the EVG inbox...

Shop local in the East Village tonight. The East Village Independent Merchant Association (EVIMA) is hosting the East Village Holiday Shopping Night, with more than 20 participating local merchants providing promotions and discounts for shoppers from 6-9 pm. A complete list of all participating stores and their deals can be found here.

In addition, the East Village Community Coalition will be holding a community holiday party and teen gift drive for the Women’s Prison Association in their offices (143 Avenue B, in the Christodora House) tonight from 6-10. Suggested gifts include: gloves, scarves, beanies, clothing (including winter coats), movie gift cards, lotions and fragrances (most popular item for girls, sunglasses, earphones and headphones, jewelry, watches, wallets, handbags and messenger bags, backpacks, NY teams merchandise (Mets, Yankees, Nets, Knicks, Rangers, Giants, Jets).