The moon...and those red lights!...at the Christodora House

Even spookier!

From firing her "personal organizer" to cutting back on facials, a Long Island millionaire copes with the recession

The New York Post has the sad story, which strangely reads like a personal ad.

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

After 60 years the Amato Opera will close its doors after this season. Anthony Amato, the company’s 88-year-old founder, gave the news to his company before Saturday night’s performance of “The Merry Widow.” Mr. Amato said he had sold the opera’s building on the Bowery in the East Village. (New York Times)

Founded in 1948 by Tony and Sally Amato (she passed away in 2000), the Opera has called 319 Bowery home since 1964. Here's an excerpt on the Amato Opera that appears on its Web site. From an article written by Sondra Zuckerman Diaz:

Amato Opera opened originally with two goals in mind: to present entertaining opera at popular prices, and to give singers a stage on which to gain much-needed experience in full-length productions. The early company utilized students from Tony Amato's opera classes. ... Early performances were free because union regulations would not allow them to charge admission. Contributions were requested during intermission. Tony Amato had invested his own money to get the company started. At 319 Bowery, when admission could be charged, tickets were $1.20 an reserved seats, $1.80. In 1975, 15 years later, ticket prices were only $3-4 a performances. Today, at only $23 for an orchestra seat, ticket prices are still a fraction of what is charged at other opera houses. Amato is believed to be the only self-sustaining opera house in the United States. ... The Amato Opera is often referred to as a "mom and pop" operation.

Here's a video created by Columbia Graduate School of Journalism students on the Bowery Poetry Club and the Amato Opera.(The Opera portion begins around the one-minute mark.)



Jeremiah has more on the Amato from last January.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

"The growing number of New York neighborhood blogs — there are nearly 200, many in Brownstone Brooklyn, but there are others in communities like Inwood, Harlem and Astoria, Queens — has amplified the city’s already boisterous discourse, raised the ideological stakes in discussions of even the tiniest issues and turned upside down the old chestnuts about urban isolation." Blogging about a neighborhood? Who would do that? Losers! (New York Times)

The Times also breaks down the latest census figures. It's a portrait of how the city has changed since 2000. On the LES: 55 percent more adults with bachelor's degrees; 43 percent more households of men living alone; 24 percent fewer Hispanic residents.

Historic 61 Fifth Ave. ready for the wrecking ball to make way for...a 10-story mixed-use building, (A Fine Blog; read Jeremiah's history of the location, which once housed a Schrafft's.)

From Scoopy's Notebook: EV Slacktivist leader John Penley wills his photo archives; an illegal hostel on East Third Street. (The Villager)

No pants on the subway (Gothamist)

Kim's Video collection on the way to Italy (New York Post; earlier)

Live above Robin Raj

At 114 Third Ave. At the old Grace and Hope Mission. Given the proximity to bars, a store full of snacks, NYU...I expect that apartment to look something like this soon...




Previous Robin Raj coverage on EV Grieve.

Save the date

Those red lights at the Christodora House

Spooky.

A sign at the Holiday

My pulse quickened a bit yesterday when I saw a sign attached to the front of the now-closed Holiday Cocktail Lounge. I hoped that it would say:

All is well. We will reopen this Friday.

Or something like that.



Hmm.

Meanwhile, Patrick Hedlund notes the story in his Mixed Use column in this week's issue of The Villager:

The no-frills pub, between First and Second Aves., has served as a watering hole for artists and eccentrics for more than four decades. It’s worth noting that another East Village dive, Sophie’s on E. Fifth St., encountered similar troubles a year ago due to the failing health of its owner, but managed to negotiate a deal to stay open. Stay tuned.

True, though Sophie's and Mona's never closed for any business while the bars were being sold...the bars did stay in the family.

Blink, and there's a Vitamin Shoppe

Just seems like yesterday that I mentioned a Vitamin Shoppe was opening on 14th Street and First Avenue...The last few months have seemingly zipped by...and Vitamin Shoppes must be easy to create.

Go Gators? Go home

East Seventh Street.