The Big Apple Thread

[tzarinna]

Lots of smog when I drove by tonight.

 

[Abaddon]

there's always smog.

 

[tzarinna]

I never noticed it before tonight. I was sober.

 

[tzarinna]

I just wanted to give a shout out to the Chelsea Hostel/ Hotel, it was the cleanest hostel I've stayed in NYC. The bathrooms were huge. I'm not sure why they put me in a room with five guys, not complaining, I love sleeping with a gang of...I'll stop now. Only thing I didn't like was the lack of towels for hostelers. They had maid service for the rooms, why not give up some towels. I don't usually pack so light but I was up here for a night and a day. I'd like to stay in one of their themed hotel rooms one day, they look super nice. http://www.chelseahostel.com/ (I don't know why they haven't updated the pictures, they clearly have given the place a makeover when I had gone)
http://starhotelny.com/index.php

I stayed in another hostel in Chelsea directly across and there was a great Irish pub that I went to again on Halloween, http://themollywee.com/. The bartender was great, he maintained even with all the ass wipes that came in and out during the evening. I was very content after leaving, god he was cute and Irish. :heart: Going back for sure.

 

[Abaddon]

They were probably afraid people would steal the towels.


Also- VICTORY!

Fare Is Fair: NYC Subway Fees Stay at $2

By LARRY McSHANE – 3 hours ago

NEW YORK (AP) — After months of angry public hearings over possible fare increases, transit officials announced Tuesday that the base cost for New York's 7.3 million daily subway and bus riders will remain at $2 through 2009.

The decision was announced by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who's endured a rougher ride lately than most city commuters, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

"I said I would listen to the public and review the numbers, and I am thrilled that we are able to give something back," MTA Chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger said.

The 25-cent increase in bus and subway fares throughout the nation's biggest mass-transit system was expected to have gone into effect next year. The MTA said it was backing off the unpopular proposal after an additional $220 million was found in its updated budget forecasts, with a portion of the funds coming from an increase in anticipated ridership.

The decision to stick with the $2 fare could boost public opinion of Spitzer, the Democratic governor whose popularity has been spiraling amid unhappiness over increased state spending and his plan to make it easier for illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses. Spitzer has dropped that proposal.

Fares on discount programs like unlimited monthly and weekly passes are likely to increase, which drew grumbling from opponents of the original plan.

"This fare deal is not a total save," Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said. "It's a good first step, but it's just a good step."

The last fare hike, from $1.50 to $2, came in 2003. The various discount programs make the average actual fare about $1.30.

"My pockets are saying, `Yes! Thank you!'" said Terry Ellison, 47, a city employee from Brooklyn. "That helps out a lot."

Last week, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey unveiled a widely anticipated plan to increase tolls by 33 percent for drivers between the two states. The agency said the proposal would help build a crucial train tunnel and encourage mass transit and environmentally friendly driving.

Associated Press writers Michael Gormley and Samanatha Gross contributed to this report.

up:

 

[El ASESINO]

Anyone going to the parade this thursday?

 

[NDX]

Well, at least we have 'til 2009 before they threaten a hike again.

 

[JP]

Cant remember the last time I rode the subway in the morning and wasn't delayed..

 

[Abaddon]

No parade.


I like they keep finding all these surpluses. At least this time it came before the hike.

Also, I just remembered I've been using unlimited cards more often so-

 

[El ASESINO]

I really hate that good day commercial were they are dancing, and now they have that crap posted on the trains on how to do the good day.

 

[Abaddon]

lol, isn't it just a watered down hussle?

Good Day hasn't been the same for me since Lyn Brown left. And then they had to drive away the cool, newer people- Lucy Noland, Chris whatshisface, and Stacy-Anne. I don't care for Ron Corning.

 

[El ASESINO]

I miss Jim Ryan

 

[Abaddon]

isn't he on the CBS morning show?

 

[El ASESINO]

Not anymore he was released a year ago

 

[tzarinna]

Has anyone been ice skating at Rockefeller Plaza?
Is it extremely busy and crowded? It never looks to be when I see it on news shows and such.
I'd like to do go next weekend while I'm up there.

 

[danoyse]

During the holidays, it's a nightmare. I've never skated there, but whenever I've been up there the lines can go as long as a 3-hour wait.

The tourists have pretty much cleared out this week, so it shouldn't be too terrible. It may be crowded if the weather stays this nice, though.

I think the skating rink at Bryant Park is still open, at least through this weekend. And that's free.

 

[tzarinna]

Ah, very nice. Thanks for the heads up and the info on the free rink.

 

[Abaddon]

I've been to one in Central Park. Was afraid I was gonna fall and get sliced up like bread.

 

[JP]

I've been to that one.

 

[Abaddon]

YC subway worker who fought robbers had killed in self-defense

1:50 AM EST, January 13, 2008


NEW YORK - Police say a martial-arts-trained subway conductor had a history of fighting back before he pulled his own knife on a group of muggers who stabbed him Thursday on an upper Manhattan street.

They say 39-year-old Maurice Parks killed a would-be robber in self-defense in 1994. He wasn't prosecuted in that case and hasn't been charged with any crime in Thursday's melee, which left bystander Flonarza Byas dead. Authorities haven't determined whose knife killed Byas or what role he played in the fray.

State Sen. Eric Adams is urging prosecutors to hold Parks' attackers responsible for Byas' death.

Parks and one of the robbery suspects are hospitalized with stab wounds. A teenage suspect has been arrested on robbery charges.

 

[JP]

Wow.

 

[Abaddon]

Bloomby, what are you up to?
http://gothamist.com/2008/01/18/bloomberg_to_ny.php

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I'm attending college in NY right now. What should I put on my to do list? I've been in the city numerous times in my life but have always come in with my parents.

 

[Captain Planet!]

I went to New York back in July. It was very tubular. Way better than Baltimore.

 

[Abaddon]

I'm attending college in NY right now. What should I put on my to do list? I've been in the city numerous times in my life but have always come in with my parents.

That list would be endless. There's always something to do.


In any case - Bloomberg- third term - yea or nay, folks?