The "No One Can Stop Pickleball, No One" Edition
Mayor Adams breaks another promise, the city loses an education fight with the state, New Jersey opposes congestion pricing, the NYPD may be in violation of federal law, James Corden sucks, and more
Today - Low: 44˚ High: 56˚
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
Whew, apologies for missing a week. Last Monday I started feeling a little under the weather. By Tuesday morning I was in urgent care being told that my Covid-19 test “showed an instant result.” I spent most of the week in bed recovering. I’m feeling much, much better now. I was prescribed Paxlovid, which I’m grateful for.
This was my first bout with Covid-19 and I’ll tell you for certain that our collective battle with this virus isn’t over and it’s not only a bad cold, as what I was experiencing was far from a cold. If you do test positive, reach out to a doctor or go to urgent care to see if you qualify for Paxlovid or monoclonal antibody treatments. If you live with someone who tested positive, I suggest you reach out to see if you qualify for antibody treatments.
That magnificent dog walker from the last edition? That’s Linda Sadiker, who is famous for walking 19 dogs at a time and was profiled by the Times in May of this year. Thank you to Christina and Lucie for sending me the link.
• The state ruled that a private Brooklyn Hasidic Jewish boys’ school is violating the law by failing to provide basic education, in what the Times called "a ruling that could signal profound challenges for scores of Hasidic religious schools that have long resisted government oversight." This is the opposite of what Mayor Adams has stated and the state will be overseeing an improvement plan. I'm trying not to look too deep into this ruling, but I could see if this is the start of the undoing of the city's control over the city's schools. (Eliza Shapiro and Brian M. Rosenthal for NY Times)
• Simple story. Mayor Adams promised Diwali would be observed as a school holiday. He's failed that promise. (Christopher Alvarez for The City)
• It's happening all across the city. There's seemingly nothing that can be done to stop it. It's invaded the parks, setting off a turf war. No one can stop PICKLEBALL. (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist)
• Congestion pricing has a new opponent: Governor Murphy of New Jersey. (Tracey Tully, Ana Ley, and Patrick McGeehan for NY Times)
• The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade has a new name: Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Festival and it's happening this weekend. (EV Grieve)
• This is a post if you love details. How to spot 19th-century boot scrapers on brownstone railings. (Ephemeral New York)
• Photos: Otto's Shrunken Head celebrated twenty years on 14th. From years ago, I have photos of a night that started at Otto's and somehow ended at the top of the Empire State Building with no knowledge of what happened between. (EV Grieve)
• Video: A recently uploaded 1976 documentary following the Young Skulls gang. (Mark Frauenfelder for Boing Boing)
• The Wing is dead, but that hasn't stopped its landlords from suing them for $1.7 million in back rent. The suit states founder Audrey Gelman personally guaranteed rent through 2028. (Clio Chang for Curbed)
• A good rule of thumb is "don't take your gun to Times Square." Heck, I know people who were given tickets and court dates for bringing a knife into Times Square. The latest in making the area a gun-free zone is Mayor Adams signing a law that bans concealed firearms. This is in reaction to the chaos surrounding the state's gun laws being fought in court. (Matt Troutman for Patch)
• The message is simple, and you would think necessary, from federal prosecutors: The NYPD needs to enforce parking laws to keep sidewalks clear or it violates federal law. The NYPD, notoriously shitty at doing this part of their job, is on the bad end of an ongoing suit brought by disabled residents of a Bronx neighborhood. If I could bet on the outcome of this situation, I'd put everything I had on "the NYPD loses this one" because I can't see a world where they actually enforce these laws, especially when it comes to placard abuse. (Stephen Rex Brown for Gothamist with reporting by Stephen Nessen)
• Interview: Griffin Hansbury, aka Jeremiah Moss from Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, on being cranky, seeing White Claws as violence, and his new book. (Esther Wang for Hell Gate)
• The Second City, fresh from being purchased by a private equity firm, is opening a theater and training center in Williamsburg. (Evan Rosen for Brooklyn Eagle)
• A look at how New York is trying to hold on to its tradition of egg cream with some trying to bring it into the current century. (Emma Orlow for Eater)
• James Corden is "a tiny cretin of a man", according to Balthazar's Keith McNally, who detailed multiple experiences that his staff has had with Corden that led to him being banned from Balthasar. (Josephine Harvey for HuffPost)
• The carriage horse that collapsed on the street earlier this year has died. After Ryder was in service while 26 and using doctored paper working showing he was 13 and was too old and not strong enough in August when he collapsed in the street. His owner was seen on video hitting him and dragging him to a standing position. His health had been declining since the incident. (Rebecca Redelmeier for Gothamist)
• It can take multiple years for a tree request to be fulfilled by the Parks Department unless you pay them $1,800 to cut the line in the form of a "donation" to the City Parks Foundation non-profit. If they're willing to move quickly for money, why would they move at all without it? (Tanaz Maghjani for The City)
• Blame Long Island and Westchester for rent increases.No, seriously! Due to the incredibly low rates that housing is built in those suburban areas and there's nowhere for people to go while staying in the metro area, keeping people in the city when they might otherwise leave. (Sam Mellin for New York Focus)
• We literally can't get rid of him. Bill de Blasio will teach at NYU next year. (Abby Wilson for Washington Square News)
• Renderings: The Garment District button is getting a redesign, and the new design will feature... a button, thread, and needle. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)
• Apartment Porn: Broadway Director Michael Grief's $2.9 million Soho loft with 11-foot ceilings, double height windows, two beds, 1500 square feet, pre-war details, and more. (Michelle Cohen for 6sqft)
• According to Time Out, Ridgewood is the fourth coolest neighborhood in the world. They deem the neighborhood "cool" for its food and drink, it has its own "distinct flavor," which can be seen in an entire day and more. Congrats Ridgewood, it's all downhill from here. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)
• Ten abandoned places to discover in Staten Island. Yes, you have to go beyond the ferry. You didn't "discover" Staten Island by taking a boat. (Untapped New York)
• Nine dishes you should try this fall from the Cranberry Cup at Lindens to Pumpkin Waffles at Sarabeth's. (Amber Sutherland-Namako for Time Out)
• Five NYC urban legends to keep you spooked. (Shiloh Frederick for Shiloh in the City)
• The top spooky and spirited bars to visit this Halloween. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft)
Top Clicked Links from Last Edition:
Featured Pet: Buddy!
Thanks to reader Tim for sending in this photo of Buddy, the on-again-off-again friend of the previously featured cat Stella. Have you been to Young Ethel’s yet? No? Remedy that! Cocktails, craft beers, live entertainment, and friendly staff.
Send your pet/animal/bodega cat photos to thebriefly@gmail.com!
Buddy’s little teef! 🥰😍