A movie poster that won't inspire me to go see the movie

The premise of the film via IMDB: "A hate crime on the campus of a New England college puts the school's dean (Parker) in a position where she has to examine her own feelings about race and prejudice, while maintaining her administration's politically correct policies." The film is based on the acclaimed play.

Poster spotted on Houston and Avenue B.

Right by this one:

“The Bowery told what was going on — what happened here happened later everywhere else”

The Times takes a trip to a dying breed of a shop: Faerman's cash register store, a father-son operation on the Bowery between Broome and Delancey Streets.

Once the Bowery was cash register heaven. Beneath the old Third Avenue el, among the restaurant supply stores and the flophouses and the down-and-outers who lived in them, stores trafficked in cash registers.

What happened to the others?

The father says the Bowery has always been a barometer. The son says, “The Bowery told what was going on — what happened here happened later everywhere else.”

It is tempting to say, glibly, that what happened is that the others cashed in, that they made a big profit from the real estate boom that remade skid row when there was mortgage money to be borrowed. Maybe they did, maybe they did not.

The Faermans’ neighbors now include a bank turned catering hall, the scene of benefits running $500 a person and up. Or, walk a few blocks to a Whole Foods store. It’s a pricey neighborhood these days. Bernard Faerman says stores rent for $15,000 a month. Brian Faerman says it is more than that. They own their building, and the son says it is not for sale.

[Photo: Andrea Mohin/The New York Times]

Was it real or part of the filming?

I have no idea what was going on here...First, there was more filming yesterday for the low-budget feature “The Imperialists Are Still Alive!” (or "The Impearlist" as the sign notes) around Tompkins Square Park. (They had also set up camp on Avenue B from 10th Street to Seventh Street one day last week.)



For some reason I stopped to watch for a few minutes yesterday. Everyone on the crew seemed to be looking south on Avenue A toward Ninth Street.





A scooter was lying in the Avenue. No one seemed to be hurt. Several people standing watching thought this was part of the film.



Didn't seem worth standing around for any longer...

New Yorkers really like the new Cemusa bus shelters and newsstands, survey by Cemusa says

We get news releases!:

New Yorkers Show Overwhelming Support for City's New Bus Shelters and Newsstands

93% feel structures improve city's appearance

NEW YORK, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Survey results released today by Cemusa, Inc. indicate that a vast majority of New Yorkers are pleased with the new bus shelters and newsstands installed throughout New York City. Ninety-three percent of respondents feel that the new design of newsstands and bus shelters improve the city's appearance and 88 percent like the new designs. Furthermore, of the respondents that indicated the new design influenced their opinion of New York City Government, 89 percent said the change was positive.

"We are very pleased by the overwhelming response to our street furniture installations in New York City, and that our work has contributed to an improved opinion of our partner, the City of New York, as well," said Susan Baron, chief executive officer, Cemusa North America. "Our new bus shelters, newsstands and automatic public toilets were designed exclusively for the city and the people of New York, which makes it all the more rewarding that they have been so well received."

Cemusa's coordinated street furniture program for the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is part of a 20 year contract that began in 2006. The contract calls for 3,300 new bus stop shelters, 20 new automatic public toilets (APT) and the replacement of 330 newsstands. To date, 1,586 shelters, 130 newsstands and two APTs have been installed. Additionally, Cemusa has fulfilled its payments to the City through 2010.

Newsstand and Bus Shelter Results
When asked about the city's new newsstands, New Yorkers surveyed responded that the upgraded newsstands sometimes result in higher purchase levels. Twelve percent of the respondents said that they purchase more from the new newsstands than they used to, citing greater appeal and cleanliness among reasons for increased purchases.

Survey results also indicated a majority of NYC pedestrians and commuters feel the new bus shelters are cleaner (62 percent) and more pleasant (61 percent) than the old shelters. Additionally, 47 percent described the shelters as better lit and 35 percent feel they are safer.

Advertisement Results
The survey results also reinforced that advertisers who appear on Cemusa bus shelters and newsstands in NYC can expect a significant return on that investment, with 65 percent of respondents indicating that they notice the advertising on newsstands/bus shelters. More than half (52 percent) of those individuals responded that the advertisements at newsstands and bus shelters make them want to buy the products they see.

[Cemusa image via BoweryBoogie]

Aces & Eights signage up at former Mo Pitkin's space

As I mentioned last Monday, a new bar has opened in the former Mo Pitkin's space at 34 Avenue A. I was told that the building was purchased by the folks behind the fratty Yorkville saloon Aces & Eights. Now, rather temporary-looking signage is up...




No indication yet how the performance space upstairs will be utilized. (Beer pong tourneys?) Something tells me that you won't be seeing, say, Kiki & Herb or Murray Hill headlining anytime soon...The 2-for-1 happy hour is in keeping with the four other bars on the next block -- Double Down, Kelly's, Nice Guy Eddie's and The Library -- that have the same deal.

Meanwhile, add futurist to the skills of former Mo's regular Ben Lerman. The ukulele-playing comedian had this to say to New York magazine in September 2007 upon hearing the news that Mo's was for sale:

“Like Brownies, Fez, Sin-é, Tonic, and many others before, Mo’s will be just another arts venue replaced by yet another bland, chic meat-market with delicious mojitos. The people moving into the town don’t want live entertainment. They just want to get hammered and drag someone home to their luxury condo. Which, when you put it that way, actually doesn’t sound so bad.”

Looking at some of the (temporary?) restaurant closings in the East Village

Tahini on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place was closed for a few days...




Grub Street noted last week that the Bamn! Automat on St. Mark's was closed...the sign on the door simply reads "closed today." It was still shuttered as of yesterday...



Ryan's is still closed on Second Avenue...



And there is a "temporarily closed for remodeling" sign up at Ray's on Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...(As I recall, this space was previously Papa D's Pizza. Never tried their pizza...)



Meanwhile!

Coming soon to Second Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street...



Finally, Table 12, the bistro at 12th Street and Avenue A that Jill mentioned last Wednesday, is now open...

Muni Meters bring out the worst in people

Spotted on Avenue A near Sixth Street...




Meanwhile...Spotted on St. Mark's Place near First Avenue...

"Couple looking to by coop or condo" without need for a mortgage flier of the day

Spotted on Avenue A and Second Street.

When popular places on East Seventh Street run out of things

At Porchetta yesterday...(and why this is so popular...I don't get...)



And at Abraço on Feb. 22...

In case you missed the 5,000 (or so) "Rock of Love Girls" posters someone plastered all over Avenue A

Looking forward to the graffiti on these.

Noted

"The modern version of the Rat Pack burned rubber through the city streets Friday as Leonardo DiCaprio and buddies Lukas Haas, Tobey Maguire and Kevin Dillon toured the East Village on bicycles." (New York Post)

Goodbye to all that

Or maybe one last (rather pathetic) attempt to enjoy a winter sport? On Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.