Ghostbusters Firehouse Being Put Out Of Business

Author: Josh Tyler
From http://www.cinemablend.com/

When someone says the word “firehouse” the image that pops up in my head isn’t of the one-story structure about two blocks from my house with the big, red fire engine parted out front. The picture indelibly burned into my brain is of the firehouse from Ghostbusters, complete with fire pole and ghost fighting gear stacked up somewhere in the corner.

The iconic firehouse used in the Ghostbusters films is actually a real, working, New York City firehouse. Or at least it has been. New York Mayor Bloomberg is pushing a plan to shut it down.

According to the NYPost the Ghostbusters station is one among 20 different firehouses which the city is considering closing due to budget cuts. It’s home to Ladder 8 and while you’d hate to see them out of a job, if they do shut it down maybe someone in New York should have the good sense to turn it into a tourist destination to help that sagging city budget.

Judging from the picture including with the Post story, the place is in good repair, even 20 years later. Look:


And here’s what it looked like in the film:





The ironic thing here is, of course, that in the 1984 film Bill Murray, Dan Akyroyd, and their ghost busting team were only able to move in to the firehouse because the city had closed it down. If you’re planning to start your own ghost busting business, the ideal location for your headquarters may soon show up on the real estate market.

New York Libraries: Come on in and Watch Some Porn

From: http://gizmodo.com/

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By Sam Biddle —

If you don't mind getting your face punched in, New York's public libraries might just be your new favorite place to watch people have sex with each other on the internet. Sure, you're surrounded by other patrons, but it's free!

You might think that watching people pound away at each other in the most graphic and jarring manner in public might run contrary to a library's mission of promoting literature and the arts, while providing a safe and tranquil place to read, work, and study. And sure, in 1973 Miller v. California pulled porn out of the categorical forcefield of free speech. But, the NY Post reports, NYPL rep Angela Montefinise thinks everyone's favorite part of the Bill of Rights includes PornHub: "In deference to the First Amendment protecting freedom of speech, the New York Public Library cannot prevent adult patrons from accessing adult content that is legal."

This is a sticky (sorry) situation! On the one hand, we tend to agree that people should be able to access whatever information they'd like in a free society. And what if you're a gender studies major, and you're writing a thesis on pornography? Or something. Cases like that are likely the infinitesimal exception to the rule that is creepy dudes without a home internet connection who just want to spend the afternoon watching porn, but censorship never quite sits right, even when it's something I probably wouldn't want my (hypothetical) little kids to see when I take them to the library to read Goodnight Moon.

So which side to err on? Liberal progressive western civilization, or not wanting to expose children to HD gang bangs? Masturbating in public is always illegal, whether you're doing it to internet porn or Jane Eyre, so that shouldn't be an issue as long as there's some diligent librarian to enforce it (and my God what an awful job that would be). So perhaps we could make exemptions for those occasional cases in which porn-viewing would have some scholarly justification—but really, the first amendment is about information and ideas, and libraries are about accessing just that. No matter how much of a free speech zealot you are, we can all agree that porn (especially two minute clips online) convey nothing except naked doing it—erotic stimulus, not information. So, sorry, creepy guys of New York (and beyond)—I think the libraries need to rescind this invitation. With that being said, online porn is a wonderful thing, and I would take to the streets with an AK-47 to defend its legal consumption in the privacy of your own home. [NYP via Gawker]

Shutterstock/Robert Kneschke

Uptown Girl Christie Brinkley gives a lesson in how to be fabulous at 57

By David Gardner

She was warned when she began modelling that her career would be over by the time she turned 30.


But at 57, Christie Brinkley shows no sign of losing her Uptown Girl appeal.
The mother-of-three proved she still

knows how to turn heads yesterday in New York as she showed off moves
from her role as Roxie in the Broadway version of musical Chicago.

Scroll down to see the video for Uptown Girl

Uptown Girl: Christie Brinkley puts on a show outside the Good Morning America studio in Times Square, New York, yesterday

Hot shoe shuffle: The model slipped her heel back on in style

Still looking super: The model showed off her form in a tight Herve Leger dress

And in a skintight red Herve Leger dress, the glamorous blonde could have passed for a woman half her age.

Miss Brinkley, who has been married four times, told a New York breakfast television host that her ex-husband Billy Joel, 61, had given her some singing tips before she auditioned for the musical.

‘He helped with my projection,’ she said.

Watch and learn! Christie showed GMA's Elizabeth Vargas a few steps

The star, who has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers, also revealed that dancing in the show had ‘definitely’ improved her figure.

Miss Brinkley was criticised for her dancing in the 1983 video for Joel’s hit Uptown Girl – but insists she has improved since.

Former husband Billy Joel gave the 57-year-old some help with her singing ahead of auditioning for the role as Roxy in the new Broadway version of Chicago

NY Man Agrees to Pay $2,000 Per Cigar Smoked in His Own Home

By Jason Beahm

From http://blogs.findlaw.com/

Smoking can be an expensive habit.

It can be really expensive when you have to pay an extra $2,000 every time you light up. But that's just what Harry Lysons, 70, of Manhattan, New York has been ordered to do, the New York Post reports.

The Post obtained papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court which state that he must pay his neighbors, Russell and Amanda Poses, $2,000 every time he smokes a cigar in his apartment, and if he doesn't pay within 15 days, he will have to pay another $1,500.

I suppose that beats $2 million, which is what Harry Lysons' neighbors were been suing him for.

Despite all that, it's possible Lysons is getting off cheap. The court order brings to an end a $2 million lawsuit Russell and Amanda Poses brought against him. His neighbors complained to the housing authority of foul and noxious odors, saying that the strong was so pungent that "you can't eat dinner."

An unpleasant odor is one thing, but the Poses took it up another notch by alleging that Lysons' cigars gave their children breathing problems and ear infections.

Lysons' attorney said that his client had no plans to quit smoking cigars: "I think when you're in your 70s you're entitled to some of the remaining pleasures in life. He's earned the right to smoke a cigar and have some brandy at night. He'll just have the cigar on the street." said attorney Jeffrey Marcus. The street may be one of the few remaining places where it is legal to smoke.

So what do you think? Should Lysons have to pay a fine to smoke in his own home?

Sally Lapointe: Fashion designer rides celebrity wave

Mass. native gets boost from singer

By Christopher Muther Globe Staff / February 17, 2011

From Boston.com 

NEW YORK — On the third floor of a sparse art gallery, a dozen stylists frantically straightened and slicked the hair of a small army of porcelain-skinned models. A dozen makeup artists painted faces with foundation and smoky eye shadow. Amid the bustle, the woman who should have been the most anxious calmly took it all in.

Related

Photos

All eyes on designer
Sally Lapointe

• Fashion designer
  rides celebrity wave

• Red threads look ahead

Marblehead native and designer Sally LaPointe, 26, showed her fall/winter 2011 collection at New York Fashion Week on Friday night. But unlike her first show here last fall, this time the eyes of the fashion elite watched closely. After pop superstar Lady Gaga plucked a LaPointe-designed black jersey dress to wear at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the designer has found herself on the brink of the big time.

The audience for LaPointe’s show included her downtown art-school pals, but also featured tastemaking editors from Italian Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, Elle magazine, and the influential website Style.com. Retail buyers, who will decide whether to pick up LaPointe’s line for their stores, were also in the house.

“I should probably be a lot more nervous,’’ LaPointe said shortly before the runway show, her black hair tucked under a ski hat. “But I feel good about the line. I feel good about how things are going. It’s all kind of exciting.’’

LaPointe, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate now based in New York, launched her line just two years ago and was quickly named one of New York Magazine’s “Nine Designers to Watch.’’ Her first collection also caught the eye of stylist Nicola Formichetti, who chose the black dress for Gaga to wear at a much buzzed about Polaroid event in Las Vegas.

“It definitely put her on the map,’’ says Harper’s Bazaar contributing editor and celebrity stylist Mary Alice Stephenson. “That press is worth probably a million dollars.’’

The fact that Gaga wore a LaPointe creation made perfect sense. The designer’s spring collection was based on the idea of going mad, and the dresses and jumpsuits were over-the-top, fanciful, and not exactly something the average woman would wear for a night on the town.

For her new fall collection, LaPointe scaled back on the craziness. While she showed some flashy pieces, the designer made huge strides toward wearability, or, as LaPointe prefers to say, “desirability.’’ Modern and feminine, the silhouettes were body conscious and well-tailored, whether it was a curve-hugging red gown or a full-sleeved silver minidress with matching leggings.

The reaction to her new line has been swift and positive. Women’s Wear Daily raved: “Futuristic can sometimes look dated but Sally LaPointe’s printed silk shirts in white and fiery orange over pants and a cropped red leather jacket were right on for the here and now.’’ Style.com noted: “They’re just the sort of thing Gaga would slip on to pick up the paper.’’

When LaPointe and her best friend and business partner Sarah Adelson launched the line, they were working day jobs at other fashion companies and never anticipated LaPointe’s work would get noticed so quickly. They now focus on the designs full time.

“Once you get a press jump like that, it creates more buzz, which is huge for us,’’ LaPointe says. “This is a pretty exciting time. It’s funny, because when my friends heard that Gaga wore one of my dresses, they just said, ‘It’s about time,’ because it just makes perfect sense that she would.’’

Celebrities have become a key vehicle for fashion designers who want to get their clothes noticed. During red carpet season, top designers pay celebrities thousands of dollars to wear their gowns to award shows and high-profile events.

But it doesn’t have to be a star-studded gathering. Paparazzi photos of a celeb wearing an eye-catching look to a restaurant, boutique, or even a court date can have a huge impact on the fate of a fashion label. The body-hugging white dress that Lindsay Lohan wore to face felony grand theft charges last week immediately sold out thanks to the publicity.

“Look at what happened with [fashion designer] Kimberly Ovitz,’’ says Joanna Coles, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire magazine. “Despite the fact that it was Lindsay Lohan, and despite the fact that it was a court date, it was still felt like an incredibly helpful moment for Kimberly. There are so many young designers out there, and the challenge for them is to get their name out there.’’

Designer Adam Lippes, who showed his collection in New York on Saturday, can speak to the power of celebrity. He’s seen his outfits worn on reality TV, but his star rose tremendously after Oprah Winfrey featured his clothes on her show.

“You can’t imagine how important something like this is,’’ Lippes said. “People are constantly looking at celebrities in magazines and blogs. It shouldn’t be that important, but it is. The bigger the celebrity, the bigger the exposure, and right now there isn’t much bigger than Lady Gaga.’’

Still, most shoppers aren’t looking for costumes; they want clothing they can wear and feel good in. LaPointe said that she had a slightly different approach in mind as she designed the new collection. She knew the fashion world would be watching, and she wants to keep it that way.

“I think that the meat and potatoes of the collection is that I wanted to make the clothes really wearable,’’ LaPointe says. “I do have a few show pieces, but I made a stronger push to make clothes that a women would really want.’’

It’s too early to tell whether the good reviews will lead retail buyers to stock shelves with LaPointe’s pieces. But no matter what happens, her two biggest fans were enthralled during last week’s show. LaPointe’s parents, who traveled from Marblehead, sat in the front row watching models strut the runway in shades of red, black, and turquoise. Their shy daughter is now the center of attention.

“It’s her outlet,’’ said her mother, Jodi LaPointe. “We all need an outlet to express ourselves, and she’s found a beautiful one. I just can’t believe I’m sitting here. Wow. I’m at my daughter’s fashion show. It doesn’t get better than that.’’

Christopher Muther can be reached at muther@globe.com.

© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.

The Coolest Locksmith Shop in New York City

Posted by Scout

From http://www.scoutingny.com/

 

Chances are, you’ve noticed Greenwich Locksmiths in your travels through the West Village. It occupies a small storefront just south of Commerce Street on one of the stranger parcels of land in Manhattan…

And though it’s been in business since 1968, it really hasn’t changed all that much. Compare the recent picture above to one taken in the 1980′s…

Then, last week, I received a letter from attentive reader Jonathan Burr, urging me to take a closer look at the building, as something had changed. I went by today – and was absolutely blown away.

From a distance, it looks like a bunch of golden squiggles and spirals have been added, snaking whimsically across the facade. But get a little closer and you’ll find the real magic…

The new design is made up entirely of keys:

Literally thousands…

…and thousands…

…and thousands of keys, twisting into wonderful assortment of swoops and twirls.

The key facade was designed and installed entirely by owner Phil Mortillaro back in October, and I can’t tell you how beautiful it is up close.

It almost feels like the locksmith version of a Pollock painting – tens of thousands of keys seemingly strewn about haphazardly, yet in the mess, patterns emerge.

More spirals by the awning:

In the top corner:

Even the inside of the door got the key treatment…

I love the spiral below, almost like a bronze-colored licorice wheel -

…around the mailbox…

One enormous key overhead…

…and more on the side:

Feeling tired? Have a seat on Mortillaro’s hand-made chair out front…

…which has gotta be one of the coolest chairs in New York (if not necessarily the most comfortable!):

The seat:

Mortillaro has apparently been looking to make his building more distinct for quite some time. On the Greenwich Locksmiths website, I came across a NY Times article revealing that, in 1991, Mortillaro reached out to an architect to redesign the facade. “What can I do with this place? It looks like any building on Queens Boulevard, I’m proud to be an American, I’d like you to make this a real American building.”

The architect came up with this:

Holy…crap. The Landmarks Preservation Commission gave its unanimous approval, and according to the article, Mortillaro was set to begin construction in 1992…but ultimately, he decided against it. “It would have been more Disney World,” he said in an interview.

I for one would have loved to see that transformation, but I’m just as happy with Mr. Mortillaro’s gorgeous key art. I urge you to check it out next time you’re in the West Village.

And while there, why not get a key made? Now more than 40 years at it, Mr. Mortillaro is a Village institution, and is said to be one of the best in the business. Apparently, a sunglasses store offered to buy the building to “help him retire,” but he declined. “This is retirement to me…When I die, this will go too.”

Special thanks again to reader Jonathan Burr for pointing this out. Be sure to check out his writings on beer for TheDailyMeal.com.

-SCOUT

Car-Towed Guy Skiing Like a Mad Man Through New York

New York and New England looked like snow zombieland last week, but that didn't stop some crazy people to enjoy the deserted, snow-loaded streets in the middle of the blizzard. This guy got his skis and a car, and had a lot of fun.


He attached a rope to the car and zipped down Park Avenue at 40mph. Which may not seem fast when you are in a car, but it must be quite exhilarating outside, in the middle of the storm, when you know that you or the car can crash at any time. Watch the complete video here.

New York's Skyline over 137 years

What Is This Magazine Cover with Snoop Dogg Trying to Tell Us?

By Nick Lucchesi,

The following weekend magazine cover is awesomely subtle. Snoop is scheduled to play the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, this Saturday, and it's clear that this particular publication has an ingenious art director.

Look how they cleverly placed Snoop's head just in front of the "ken" on weekend. What's it look like to you? Hmm...

Since this is magazine cover is from the Rochester, New York area, it could be the weekend magazine for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle; we're not sure. If you know, post it in the comments so we can hang out with/high-five the art director for this magazine.

​

Preview: The Hottest Debuts @ the 2010 New York Auto Show

Antony Marceles
From: http://www.nitrobahn.com/

The New York International Auto Show is less than a week away, and as the auto world waits enthusiastically to see what the global automakers have in store, we thought it would be a good time to give you a preview of what to expect at this years show. As the show’s Director, Candida Romanelli puts it, “Whether you’re in the mood for a new car, or just fantasizing about your dream ride of the future, the New York Auto Show has got just what you’re looking for,“. So sit back, and take a look at some of the hottest vehicles set for debut this year.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

This lightweight sports car comes complete with Gullwing doors and the ultimate handling dynamics. It comes powered by a 6.3L, V8 front-mid engine that develops 571 hp when coupled with a seven-speed double-declutch transmission and sports suspension with aluminum double wishbones.

“the new ultimate sports machine” – Automobile Magzine

Audi A8

Complete with a light aluminum body, powerful and efficient engines and improved MMI control system, the new Audi A8 is slated to arrive in dealerships later this year. The Audi A8 comes equipped with an FSI direct injection 4.2L V8 engine that outputs 350 hp.

“meant to appeal to wealthy consumers looking for maximum luxury and space” – Edmunds.com

SAAB 9-5

In spite of all the commotion experienced during its sale to Spyker, SAAB seem’s to have done itself an unmistakable job with this Scandinavian beauty that is based of SAAB’s Aero X Concept. The 2.8L, V6 engine is enhanced by a Borg-Warner twin-scroll turbocharger, which results in 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque

“a clear resurgence of past design traits married to a modern, sleek profile” – MotorAuthority

Ford Shelby GT500

The 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 is expected to take high performance to a whole-new level with improved handling capabilities, driving dynamics and fuel efficiency. It comes loaded with a muscular 5.4L all-aluminum V-8 engine that generates up to 550 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.

“has the aluminum powerplant we all wanted…, and the effect is absolutely en-lightening.” – Autos.aol.com

Honda CR-Z

After sales figures that exceeded expectations by ten-fold in Japan, the sleek, stylish and sporty Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe is bound to give the Toyota Prius its first real competition. Powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC engine and Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) electric system, the CR-Z hybrid coupe is expected to hit a mileage of 36 mpg city/38 mpg highway.

“Transforming the automotive landscape” – MotorTrend Magazine.

Infiniti M-Series

This luxurious performance sedan comes with a slew of latest technology features, including the Blind Spot Navigation (world’s first system to help avoid blind spots) and Eco Pedal (encourages eco-driving behavior). The M37 comes loaded with a 3.7L, V6 engine that outputs 330 hp, while the M56 comes with a direct injection 5.6L, V8 that delivers 420 hp.

“M has gone from a good-looking sedan to a gorgeous, exotic-looking car from the future.” – cars.about.com

Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai seems to be one of the fastest growing brands, and that claim seems to have been substantiated by Kelly Blue Books (KBB) analysis that Hyundai beat Toyota for “Brand Loyalty” for the first time this year. Hyundai’s popular mid-size sedan, based on their new “fluidic sculpture” design comes with a Theta II 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine that delivers 198 hp.

“the perfect symbol of Hyundai’s transformation.” – The Truth About Cars.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

This fabric-top two-door E-Class Cabriolet from the Mercedes-Benz staple exudes confidence and style like none other. It comes in a choice of either a 3.5L, V6 delivering 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque in the form of the E350, or a 5.5L, V8 that churns out 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque in the form of the E550 cab.

“2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is a smooth Spanish Fly(er)” – Autoblog

Nissan Juke

Based off the Nissan Qazana concept crossover we saw at last years Geneva Motor Show, the slightly larger Nissan Juke comes with a squared-off roofline along with a pair of extra doors. In the European markets the Nissan Juke is available in either a 1.5-liter turbo-diesel I-4, or one of two 1.6-liter I-4s, one of which comes with a turbocharger.

“filling a niche between the Versa hatchback and Rogue crossover.” – Consumer Report

Porsche Cayenne

The lighter, more powerful and fuel-efficient Porsche Cayenne comes with a complete interior and exterior styling re-design. Watch out for the Cayenne S Hybrid – a highly advanced full hybrid that delivers the performance of an eight cylinder with the fuel-economy of a six cylinder. It packs 333-hp, through its supercharged V-6 engine teamed with a 47-hp electric motor.

“…the Cayenne isn’t the sportiest member of the Porsche range, but it does offer a level of precision, feel, and driver gratification that is lacking in many other luxury SUVs” – MotorTrend Magazine.