"What they may have ended up with is the House that Mute Built"

Joel Sherman in the Post talks about yesterday's new era at Yankee Stadium:

If regular-season Game 1 of this new building is any indication, the dimensions made it across the street from the old stadium, but not the passion. The Yankees wanted to build a museum, a palace, a mall-park. And what they may have ended up with is the House that Mute Built.

Incredibly, after all the anticipation and hoopla, the sellout crowd at this grand opening had about the same zeal as grandmothers playing mahjong. Why? The ticket prices mean a lot more corporate patronage in the seats close to the field, which means far fewer diehards near the action, screaming, taunting, making it uncomfortable for the opposition.

Bellet falls on East Fourth Street

The plywood went around the former Bellet Construction site on East Fourth Street near Avenue B last November....



...and it slowly...



...was dismantled to make room for what the building permit describes as a two-family residence.

During recession, local barbers expand their services

On 14th Street between Second Avenue and First Avenue...



On First Avenue between Third Street and Second Street....

Dumpster of the day

Avenue A near 12th Street.

Noted

On Avenue C at East Seventh Street. And, uh, what door?

Something for Joey

This Ain't the Summer of Love reminds us that yesterday marked the 8th anniversary of Joey Ramone's death. Alex also marks the date at Flaming Pablum.

By the way, his 2009 Birthday Bash is coming up on May 19 at the Fillmore/Irving Plaza.

Looking at 89 Clinton Street

Walked by the newly renovated 89 Clinton St. between Delancey and Rivington the other day....



Open house? Don't mind if I do!



The unit I saw was advertised as a three-bedroom apt. The bedrooms -- I only noticed two -- were on the smallish side. But very nice. Tiny closet.



This unit has access to the still-being-groomed outdoor space. You have to share the space with the two apartments below...




Everything about the space, which had two bathrooms, was topnotch... wide plank oak flooring, washer and dryer, high ceilings, dishwasher, exposed brick, pinpoint hallogen lighting, individual climate control and video intercom....There was even a wine thingee in the kitchen for people who don't want to keep wine in the fridge. (Will it also hold beer?)



And all on Clinton Street! According to the realtor's Web site, this is an "Awesome Trendy location."

So...what's the bottom line here for the two-bedroom space? $4,695. Oh, excuse me for a moment.

OK, OK... there's no fee. And there's something about a free month of rent with a two-year lease. And with a two-year lease, there will not be a rent increase. Still, that rent seems like a lot in these recessive times. I was under the impression that prices were coming down... The agent said that most of the units were already rented for a May 1 move-in date. What do I know then.

Oh! And the sales agent was sitting in the living room. His said this could be converted into a third bedroom.

St. Hummus Place?

As my tipster suggested, Hummus Place is expanding into the empty Sympathy for the Kettle space at 109 St. Mark's Place.



And was the matching sign above the door to the apartment building really necessary?

A message from John Penley: "Hey man, I'm in Erie"

In this weeks's issue of The Villager (not yet online), Scoopy gets a call from Slacktivist leader John Penley from Pennsylvania. "Hey man, I'm in Erie ... I'm here. I'm staying, and I'll see what happens."

Red Light District

Avenue B near East Seventh Street. And you call this spring? At least it will feel like spring today and tomorrow and....

Unopened restaurant has stern warning for anyone thinking of soliciting, loitering, littering, etc.

For reasons unknown to even me, I've been keeping an eye on 424 E. 9th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A. The Moroccan-themed Sintir is planning on opening here...(The owners were denied a beer/wine license in February ... there is opposition from members of the Block Association concerned about the possibility of live music here...)



Work continues at the space... and check out this warning on the front window....



Is that stern warning so necessary?

New Yankee Stadium wasn't built in 26 seconds -- or was it? (Plus, where is the old stadium?)

As you read here exclusively, the Yankees have a new stadium. And today is the home opener in said stadium. And here it is being built.



And here is a video uploaded in March 2008 titled "Yankee Stadium 2009 Opening Day Presentation." Notice anything missing in this soundless video? Like the old Yankee Stadium? And what about some of those businesses that line River Avenue? Where's Ball Park Lanes?

April 15 humor

On St. Mark's Place.

Is there a connection between increased unemployment rates and higher crime rates?

The Wall Street Journal explores the topic.

"High unemployment is likely for the rest of 2009. Does that presage a year of violence? Maybe not."