Fight Club In The Park

The Union Square Spartans is a group of martial artists. Several dozen combatants were recently demonstrating their skills in Manhattan’s Union Square Park. That’s when The "NYPD Boys" made their appearance. The "club meeting" came to an abrubt end … without further confrontation. Remember the Spartans. They won’t be back anytime soon.

Cable Competition Coming

Time Warner and Cablevision may have to make room for Verizon’s Fios TV later this year. The city’s Franchise and Concession Review Commission approved Verizon’s plan. It now goes before the state Public Service Commission. Upon receiving their approval, service will begin in each of the five boroughs with service available to every home by 2014. Cable’s "chokehold monopoly" on New Yorkers has been loosened just a bit.

Wall Street Job Potholes Ahead

By the middle of 2009, an estimated 33,000 financial jobs may be lost. So says the city’s Independent Budget Office. New York City has recently seen 10,000 jobs disappear. The city took a harder hit after 9/11 when an estimated 60,000 jobs were lost. The local economy will always have it’s swings; good and bad. In downtown Manhattan, It looks like it’s about to strikeout before it hits it’s next homerun.

Happy 125th Brooklyn Bridge!

To look upon this magnificent structure is to behold what was one of the great engineering feats of it’s day. However, there was something unknown to the builders and residents of New York City back in 1883. The linking of two counties, Manhattan and Kings (Brooklyn), was to become the catalyst of a five-borough metropolis. New York grew to be recognized as “the greatest city in the world.” It’s amazing what a man's dream along with some bricks and steel stretched across water can lead to. It’s also amazing as to what this bridge can lead to on either side. Drive, walk or bicycle across this bridge. Connect with the past and present.

See London … While In New York

An English sculptor/artist by the name of Paul St. George has tunnel vision and because of it, New Yorkers (Londoners too) can see across the Atlantic Ocean. His “telectroscope” arises from the Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn. An identical one was setup across the pond on London’s South Bank. When one steps up to the lens, they can see a real-time, life-size view of whoever may be peering through the lens on the other side. Paul St. George claims to have been inspired by his great-grandfather, Alexander Stanhope St. George whose dream was to tunnel under the Atlantic, put a telectroscope on either side and let people on both sides see each other. Technically speaking, it works with fiber optic communication but let’s keep that quiet. After all, why ruin the imagination of the young or the fascination of the old? This art exhibit is definitely worth a look. A display like this should find a permanent home so the public may continue to see and be amazed, long into the future.

MTA’s Double-Decker-Play Revisited

New York City Transit is considering a trial program to run double-decker buses in Manhattan this year. Howard Roberts, NYC Transit President said, “Back to the future is, at least in terms of productivity, something we would also like to look at.” The MTA is now reviewing several bus models from companies worldwide. The last time these British-type buses were tried on our streets was back in the 1970’s. Today’s “go green” mentality and the unique appeal buses like these have on riders and pedestrians makes this a play, a winning city could use.

White's Green To Make Gardens Greener

Shelby White, a Brooklyn girl, still proud of her roots recently donated $25 million dollars to two fortunate organizations that benefit all New Yorkers. It’s the largest private donation in the history of New York for the greening of the city! $10 million will fund projects in Prospect Park and $15 million will be put to good use at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Many are familiar with the story, “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.” Well, I guess angels grow up there too. Thanks, Shelby for your generosity.