Twee Few, Twee Happy Few
Something happened around 2001 that split off a large portion of Scottish band Belle and Sebastian's estimable fan base, which is a shame, because they've done great work since. A lot of fans had latched on to the band's infectious, bookish pop soon after its 1996 debut, Tigermilk, and five years on had simply grown out of the breezily strummed ditties and cute/wounded lyricism. Of course, the band had grown out of that too, but cast off more listeners who grew disappointed as the band's sound roamed further and further afield, sounding more like Steely Dan or Fleetwood Mac than the apotheosis of 80's-90's British indie-pop. read more »
PolitickerNY
If a Gang of Three Member Flips, "Fusion" in Senate
ALBANY—State Senator George Winner, an Elmira Republican, just brought up an interesting scenario in the still-unresolved fight to be the chamber's majority leader. read more »
At Gucci Bash, Becki Newton Ponders the Economy; 'We're Just Trying to Be as Careful As Possible'
Last night at Fifth Avenue's three-story Gucci behemoth, the heels were treacherously high, the paparazzi were out in full force, the fur-lined suede coats were not on sale (but yours for just $5,960)—it felt like 2006!
The crowd was there to celebrate a new line of Gucci products that benefit UNICEF; the singer Rihanna stars in the ad campaign and was the evening's host (though after a brief appearance in the women's department, she departed with her bodyguard and entourage of seven for a private dinner in the Oak Room at the Plaza). Ugly Betty star Becki Newton and hubby Chris Diamantopoulos were both clad in head-to-toe Gucci and Ms. Newton was star-struck over Rihanna's (brief) presence.
"I'm still hung up on 'Umbrella'," she said. read more »
Wisening Up, Auction Houses Will No Longer Offer Gurantees to Art Sellers
According to the Wall Street Journal the art market has officially burst. With prices dropping 30 percent and auction houses' stocks plummeting, layoffs are inevitable. Galleries are closing. And the effects are rippling through the community of collectors, dealers, and the artists themselves.
Mary Boone keeps telling us that last week's disappointing auctions were actually relatively encouraging. Only 20 percent of works sold at auction '89 she says, so this, in comparison, is not so bad.
But what does this all mean for those who have funneled money into outrageously priced contemporary and modern art works in the past decade, hoping to flip them? read more »
In Hillaryland, She's Taking the Job, She's Not Taking It, and It Was Never Offered
If you are bewildered by the labyrinth of a public storyline about Hillary Clinton's potentialpossiblemaybe appointment to serve as Barack Obama's secretary of state, you're not alone.
Apparently, most people in Hillaryland have no clue what's going on either.
A former adviser to Hillary, speaking on background, told me of receiving calls in the last couple of days from people close to the Clintons claiming that Hillary's acceptance of Obama's secretary of state offer was "a done deal," that Hillary had been offered the job but was sure to decline it and that the job had actually never been offered at all. These contradictory accounts, the former adviser said, were made with "absolute authority. read more »
PolitickerNY
Health Commissioner Defends Closing Children's Dental Clinics, Funding Anti-Smoking Ads
In continuing testimony at the City Council's budget hearing on H.H.S., Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden is defending his agency’s decision to save money by read more »
PolitickerNY
Pritzker Not for Commerce Secy., Espada's Missing Steps
Vetting has complicated heiress Penny Pritzker's chance of becoming Obama's commerce secretary. [WP] read more »
PolitickerNY
Barron Says Goodbye to a White Male
Councilman Charles Barron just pointed out to me that a painting that used to hang on the wall of the Committee Room in the City Hall is no longer there. read more »
MTA Meeting: Pleas to Suburban Siblings, Used Wall Street Protest Signs
It was a rough two hours for MTA board commissioners this morning: tears and tongue lashings in public testimony followed a budget presentation that confirmed all of their worst fears.
“I think I speak for all the board members when I say, ‘Wow,’” said Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger after hearing the full slate of proposed cuts.
Without specifying the amount of a fare hike for New York City transit—besides a jump in express bus fare from $5 to $7.50—the 500-odd-page budget proposal includes a raise in “yield” of 23 percent, factoring in resulting reductions in ridership. Significant cuts include 2,269 jobs; the Z and W subway lines (with some corresponding line extensions to compensate); the entire station customer assistant program; and weekend service on 37 bus routes.
The board won’t take a final vote on its proposed budget for 2009 until its next meeting in December. But the proposal’s fare hikes and route cuts, leaked a few days ago by the Daily News, already had people hopping mad. read more »
The_Real_Shaq Stands Up on Twitter
Shaquille "Kobe, Tell Me How My Ass Taste" O’Neal wasn't going to let some troll front as his 7-foot-1 basketball behemoth on Twitter. So he started his own account. First tweet: "This is the real SHAQUILLE O’NEAL," came from The_Real_Shaq, early Tuesday morning. It has been a "shaqalicious" romp ever since.
The New York Times' Howard Beck spoke with Mr. O'Neal yesterday to make sure it was him.
“Somebody out there was trying to use my language and trying to speak for me,” he told The Times in a telephone interview. “Rather than have that happen, I thought I’d do it myself. read more »
