A shanty shack grows on South End Ave

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January 27, 201

BatteryPark.TV has received several emails complaining about the growing unsightly shanty shack at the intersection of South End Avenue and Albany. A fruit vendor is expanding onto the empty porch of the closed down Gate House. He is now storing numerous boxes of fruit on the ground, and has an ugly makeshift tarpaulin over his stand. The merchants even have a 24-hour source of electricity from a gasoline generator with fuel canisters sitting on the sidewalk. The Gateway Plaza real estate group is the nearest property owner, and is allowing the storage of the boxes on their porch.

Also, across the street is a permanent, never moving, “Mobile” pastry and coffee cart. It is a favorite spot for tour buses and trucks that park illegally for hours on Albany using the food cart as their excuse for stopping. Brookfield Properties is the nearest property owner.

The nearby Hudson Produce, a legal establishment that loses money to both sidewalk vendors, was enthusiastic when BatteryPark.TV informed them that many in the community want the fruit shack to leave.

Where is the City Department of Health when they are needed? Do they only harass restaurants and collect fees? We asked Gayle Horwitz, CEO of the BPCA, whether they or some other agency is in charge of regulating this site, and she did not reply. We are awaiting replies from the property owners, City Hall, and the First Precinct.

What do you think? Should these unauthorized food vendors be shut down and evicted or do you value their services? Please post comments in the section below. They will be helpful to the community board and others.

Take our survey here.

(Click images to enlarge to full screen)

The permanent "mobile" pastry and coffee cart on Albany Street and South End Avenue

Dr. Greer’s medical tips for an optimal annual physical exam

By Steven Greer, MD

Many people schedule their annual physical for either the end of the year or the start of the year. Your doctor undoubtedly delegates most of the tests and data collection to the staff, and they are often improperly performed. Some common mistakes to watch for are:

• Make sure all of the staff washes their hands.
• Make sure the nurse actually measures your height and weight. You likely lie to yourself about both and the nurse should not take your word for it.
• Make sure the ECG leads are actually placed on the ankles and not on the abdomen. Nurses and most doctors often do not understand the artifacts caused by improper leads and they only glance at the ECG to look for obvious rhythm disorders. For an ECG to be of use in identifying old infarcts, the leads have to be properly placed across the chest, both arms, and both legs.
• When they draw the blood, have them penetrate the vein at a 90-degree right angle, not close to parallel to the skin at an acute angle. A right angle works better and is less painful.
• Make sure the doctor checks the soles of your feet the pulses in ankles. Ask your doctor to measure the “Ankle/brachial index” to pick up peripheral vascular disease in the legs.
• Make sure the doctor looks in your ears. You probably have cerumen (wax) and you will hear those iPods better if the canals are clean. Use hydrogen peroxide dipped in Q-tips to gently clean your ears without compacting the wax deeper, or see an ear doctor if you have the luxury.
• Particularly if you are Caucasian, make sure the doctor looks for nevi (moles) and signs of skin damage from the sun. If you are over age 40 or are younger with fair skin, this is very important. Have the doctor chart the lesions found. If you have any doubt, just go to a dermatologist and have the lesion removed. For widespread skin damage, photodynamic therapy works well.
• If you are over age 50, go to an eye doctor to have a real eye exam where your pupils are dilated by drops. Your primary care doctor is just going through the motions by looking in your undilated eyes and cannot see much at all other than cataracts. Signs of early eye disease that will lead to blindness can only be seen when the pupils are dilated.
• Ask about adult vaccinations for diseases such as shingles, flu, pneumonia, etc. Financial reasons have caused most primary care offices to stop administering vaccines.
• If your doctor recommends any form of medication to prevent a cardiology problem, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, get a second opinion and search http://www.currentmedicine.tv/ for the topic. In general, get a second opinion before starting any new therapy.

Weeks later, if the laboratory testing company tries to bill you, do not pay. They are not allowed to bill you for the balance of what insurance does not pay as long as your doctor is “in network”. Be generous with your doctor, however. Most primary care doctors are underpaid.

Ed Koch: Who will be the leading contenders for the NYC Mayoral race?

July 10, 2011

We interviewed former Mayor Ed Koch about the likely candidates for the 2013 New York City Mayoral race now that Anthony Weiner is no longer a viable candidate. NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn is his favorite candidate.

The North End Grill

**** BatteryPark.TV has selected this establishment as Best of Downtown for seafood

You can rank this restaurant here, and post your comments below

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The North End Grill

104 North End Avenue (West side of the Conrad Hotel)

T (646) 747-1600

January 23, 2012  By Steven Greer, MD

The North End Grill began its first dinner services for the regular public tonight. As one would expect from a Danny Meyer 4-star striving establishment, the details were well done. As a propitious welcome, the framed photographs at the entrance feature the Irish Memorial across the street (which almost no one will realize). The bar serves individual seltzer and Coke bottles with the drinks, and the glasses are the proper shape. Try the three-glass sampler of whiskeys and the ice cold local beers. The bar menu of $4 tacos, etc. will be a big hit.

Walking to the dining room one sees the open kitchen, which flaunts the fine ingredients and competent crew. There is nothing to hide. The row of seating overlooking the kitchen could be the best seats in the house for the circumspect diner. The dining room looks out onto the peaceful North End Avenue (thanks to BatteryPark.TV evicting the tour buses) and offers a peak of the Hudson River and sunsets.

Chef Floyd Cardoz and his team prepares the wild salmon perfectly, and the Brussels sprouts are creatively chopped and grilled. Other meats and fish are dipped into the unusual wood oven using a Spanish-inspired pair of large steel wheels. The Josper grill allows other meats to be charcoal broiled. Pork chops and steaks are also available.

A separate pastry desert station and a coffee roasting station offer the triptych completion to dinner that will compete the best restaurants. The pecan layer cake portion looks small when it arrives, but is more than enough. But to be honest, many of the southern classic baked deserts around the corner at Blue Smoke can’t be beat.

The best part of North End Grill (and Blue Smoke), is the new demographic that it draws to Battery Park. Although it was a rainy Monday night, the place was almost full. Danny Meyer came over to greet diners in person, and there was no pretentiousness or rudeness that plagues some nearby Tribeca joints like Locanda Verde.

Much as Mr. Meyer’s “Eleven Madison” progressed up to 4-stars, the putative progression of North End Grill should be no different. Hopefully, our idea for a Lincoln Center Jazz style venue will open up next door, and BPC residents will never have to take another depressing New York City cab ride again.

BatteryPark.TV helps prompt City Council investigation of restaurant letter grading system

(In full screen 1080i HD)

January 13, 2012

Did BatteryPark.TV’s reporting from January 7 (And the much larger New York Post) cause this January 11 email from the City Council? Several restaurant owners seem to think so and forwarded us this email. If you feel you are being “shaked down” by inspectors, email us and we will send cameras over within minutes.

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City Council Launches Restaurant Inspection Survey 

January 11, 2012

From Speaker Christine C. Quinn

Council seeks feedback from restaurant owners on City’s food safety inspection process and new letter grading system.

As part of the City Council’s oversight of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and in response to mounting concerns raised by city restaurateurs regarding the restaurant inspection process, yesterday I, along with Health Committee Chair Maria del Carmen Arroyo announced the launch of a comprehensive restaurant inspection survey. City restaurant owners and operators are urged to participate in this Council effort to gather information on food safety inspections, with particular emphasis on the recently implemented letter grading system and its impact on city restaurants. The survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/restaurantinspection and accessible through the Council’s website at www.council.nyc.gov. The questionnaire will also be available in six different languages. The survey results will provide a foundation for an oversight hearing in late February, where the Council intends to further explore the inspection process and possible areas for reform. 

I am troubled by the wave of complaints the Council has received from restaurants – even the ones that get A’s – about the fairness and inconsistency of the food safety inspection process. Any initiative – especially 18 months after establishment – calls for scrutiny. With this survey, we hope to learn more about what is and isn’t working, including whether the grading system has been implemented fairly. The participation of restaurateurs in this analysis is critical, and we look forward to hearing their input.

Divided into two sections, the first part of the survey seeks background information about the food establishment and solicits views on DOHMH’s inspection process and the letter grading system. The second section requests recent historical data about experiences with inspections and adjudication in administrative tribunals. Specifically, this section seeks details about violations issued during each inspection from 2008 to the present, along with costs accrued in connection with the payment of fines, consultants and improvements. Survey participants are encouraged to answer as many questions as possible.

In July 2010, DOHMH began requiring food service establishments to post letter grades corresponding with scores reflecting sanitary inspections during which restaurants receive points for violations. An inspection score of 0-13 violation points is an A, 14-27 violation points is a B, and 28 or more violation points is a C. Grade cards are meant to be clearly visible to the public.

Steven Greer, MD discusses with Bill O’Reilly the Japan radiation concern for the US?

April 2, 2011

Currently, the radioactive isotopes from the Fukushima meltdowns (plural) reaching the United States are of no concern. The levels are miniscule and of no medical harm. However, radiation exposure and subsequent risk to cancer is cumulative and the situation cannot be allowed to continue for months, ala the BP oil spill. What will the international community do next?

We discussed this with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly.

The people have voted: “Bring quality music to the Conrad Hotel”

The results of our survey are in. Ideally, if the business model made sense, our viewers liked the idea of a high-quality jazz and performing arts venue to go into one of the remaining retail spots of the Conrad Hotel, owned by Goldman Sachs.

Multiple answers per rater are allowed, so the total exceeds 100%. “Joe’s Pub” and “Lincoln Center Jazz” are similar options.

Some “other” suggestions included a children’s retail shop, an Indian restaurant, and a strip club.

We will leave the survey active and see how it changes over time. Although, the results will be very unscientific.

Click here to take the survey

Goldman Sachs transforms BPC from a Staten Island annex vibe into the new Tribeca

January 10, 2012 By Steven Greer, MD

Battery Park City, since its formation in the early 70′s, has always been viewed by most New Yorkers as more of a Staten Island annex rather than a true part of Manhattan, and for good reason. With the West Side Highway as a barrier, the place took on a suburban vibe with a surreal David Lynch or Stephen King twist. All of that might change now as the new Goldman Sachs headquarters takes root.

Despite a large residential population with an average income well over $100,000,  Battery Park City has long been underserved by low quality shady restaurants barely meeting health inspection minimums, and has been totally devoid of respectable nightlife venues. After the financial collapse that began in 2007, things got even worse. The one bright spot of BPC, the Ritz Carleton hotel rooftop lounge, closed down, as did The Gate House and several shops in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center.

The closest source for quality restaurants or entertainment has been in Tribeca with its block of restaurants, such as Nobu and The Tribeca Grill. But even Tribeca was seriously lacking in entertainment. With the housing bubble came $2 Million and up apartments, with owners more typically found in New Jersey or West Chester. As a result, the community board frowned upon 4:00 AM closing times or any noise whatsoever.

Some high-end wine or brandy bars have tried to establish in Tribeca but never flourished. The Tribeca Grand hotel lobby space and the Smyth Hotel venue are all struggling. The demand seems to be lacking. Bankers at nearby Citigroup bolt home after work, and poor management plagues the hotel attempts.

Along comes Goldman Sachs. The new headquarters opened in 2010 at the corner of Vesey Street and West Street, in Battery Park City. The adjacent hotel, also owned by Goldman Sachs, was gutted and converted into the new Conrad Hotel, upgrading it from the old Embassy Suites.

Dino Fusco and his Goldman Sachs team quickly evicted the failing Applebee’s, Chevy’s, and other low quality restaurants, and brought in some much improved establishment at the ground level of the hotel. Most of them are now open for business after more than a year of renovation.

Having been opened for just one week, the social scene has immediately changed for the better in Battery Park City. The crowds inside Mark Maynard-Parisi and Danny Meyer’s Blue Smoke southern cuisine restaurant do not remotely resemble the crowds of the old joints on South End Avenue. The place is packed with young executives who work nearby at American Express, Goldman Sachs, etc, or who live nearby in the newly built green apartments.

In addition to the Shake Shack, the other Danny Meyer establishment in the Conrad Hotel space is the North End Grill that is comparable to his midtown well-reviewed Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern. No doubt, there will soon be seen lines of Maybach’s and limos on the street in front waiting for diners.

For the resident of Battery Park City with high standards, no longer will they need to trek over to Tribeca for decent dining. The entertainment situation might improve as well when the Conrad Hotel opens. A variety of lounges and music venues are rumored to be opening, including an outdoor rooftop space overlooking the Hudson River and New York Harbor. This might fill the void left when the Ritz Carlton gave up on this business. Ideally, residents would be getting a Jazz Standard next to the Blue Smoke, but that is not in the cards (despite BatteryPark.TV trying to convince people).

Due to its superior infrastructure, the Goldman Sachs-led reincarnation of Battery Park City actually has much more potential of becoming a premier Manhattan neighborhood than Tribeca ever did. For starters, there is a marina that can accommodate the largest yachts in the world. The area has an Asphalt Green training facility with an Olympic-size swimming pool and outdoor baseball/soccer fields. There are two newly constructed public schools. The BPCA-managed parks and botanical gardens are better than any others in the city. The high-rise housing is mostly all modern and green. It is easier to own a car and access the tunnels from Battery Park City than in Tribeca, and two of the best hotels in the city are in Battery Park (Institutional Investor Magazine ranked the Ritz as the best hotel in the world in 2007).

Good retail clothing shops will follow soon. In 2013, the renovation of the Winter Garden will be completed with numerous new businesses.

Please do not forward this article. A good thing is best kept quiet. We don’t want any riffraff from SoHo coming down here.

The Winter Garden at the WFC: site of new retail stores in 2013

Benvenuti Pizzeria

South Battery Park now has once again a local pizzeria and Italian deli. Benvenuti has opened up in the former location of Samantha’s.

(This restaurant has not yet been review) Please post your comments in the section below.

(212) 945-2100

250 South End Avenue

Will Fox Studios or Wall Street Journal move Downtown?

Crain’s has an article that mentions once again how News Corporation, parent company of Fox Studios and The Wall Street Journal, might move into some office space in the World Trade Center. Of course, the Dow Jones offices used to be in WFC Building 1 until a few years ago. The studio views high atop the Freedom Tower would be unprecedented.

(BatteryPark.TV collaborates with News Corp newspapers and TV)

Update on efforts to rid BPC of illegally parked tour buses

September 29, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The building manager of the 2 River Terrace called BatteryPark.TV about our tour bus stories. He said that the problem of illegally parked buses on North End Avenue has significantly declined since the stories. Their staff members are calling the Battery Park Enforcement Patrol and receiving assistance now.

In addition, we witnessed an NYPD full officer (as opposed to a traffic officer with no authority to ticket moving violations) issue a ticket to a bus on Murray Street. The bus was initially asked to leave North End Avenue and then promptly illegally parked 50 yards away on Murray Street.

The officer told us that they are now patrolling the area dealing with the tour buses. He explained that the designated areas for the buses are across West Street outside of Battery Park City.

Bus ticketed by NYPD on Murray Street

Update on efforts to rid BPC of illegally parked tour buses

October 7, 2011

By Steven Greer, MD

The doorman of a North End Avenue apartment building told us today that he saw a PEP officer evict an illegally parked tour bus this week, and they did so without being called by the building. Last week, we reported similar progress. If this progress is sustainable, it is a direct result of our reporting and the cooperation of CB1 BPC Chairwoman Linda Belfer who requested the PEP to take action.

At the recent 9/11 memorial tour hosted by Sheldon Silver, we spoke with one of his staffers who said that they have been trying to resolve these illegally parked tour buses for “A long time”. Sometimes, local issues are most effectively dealt with by the citizens. In this case, the BPCA, led by Gayle Horwitz, had made it known that they were not going to instruct the PEP to intervene with the buses, but the BPC residents via CB1 and BatteryPark.TV got some results.

If your building has a tour bus problem, please refer to this story for tips on handling the matter. If the drivers are belligerent, call the PEP at (212) 417-3114 and let us know what happens.

What type of store should complete the Conrad Hotel spaces?

(Please forward this to your friends)

BatteryPark.TV has learned that some of the retail space at the Conrad Hotel is yet to be leased. What would you like to see go into these spots?

Click here to take the survey

Photos of the Week

The following photos were submitted by John Brindisi

(Click images to expand to full screen)

By John Brindisi

By John Brindisi

Kutsher’s Tribeca

186 Franklin St.  212-431-0606

(This restaurant has not yet been reviewed)  Please post your comments in the section below.

BatteryPark.TV was invited to lunch at the new Kutsher’s Tribeca. Lunch service just began a few days ago and we dined with co-owners Zach Kutsher and Alan Wilzig. The hamburger and Reuben sandwiches were quite delicious (Our full review will follow soon).

Owners Zach Kutsher, left, and Alan Wilzig, right

The Reuben

The New York Post wrote this review.

Alan Wilzig wrote to us: “Being in commercial banking for 20 years , and living in Manhattan all the while, I saw that “hot restaurants” came and went like the breeze, but that most Greek diners, fast food, and The 2^nd Ave Deli were all consistently successful operations. Living here in Tribeca for 12 years, every time I wanted a decent pastrami sandwich I had to ride my electric motorcycle SUPER far East to get to Katz’s. I felt like each time I rode there they moved it another avenue closer to the East River.

Given the massive influx of residents here, and with the ideal “family-demographics” and new office towers, it just felt “too-right” not to be an active participant. Moreover,  Zach and I spent over a year together every day developing the concept (and he spent plenty of time on it before he ever came to me !) – and all the while he was FULL OF ZEAL and PASSION……but not “full of himself”:  No giant ego ; no hubris.

That’s very rare – to see someone so FIRED UP yet so willing and receptive to suggestion and cooperation / inclusion of other’s ideas.

It’s just a perfect working partnership. Lastly – I really DID see when he was brought “home to the hotel” as a newborn baby 38yrs ago.

Mark, Zach’s dad, and Milton his late grandfather, were all on our Board at my bank for 10 years each. So there is no family on earth (aside from my own , naturally) that I know, love , or trust more than the Kutsher family.

Lastly, we both know there is a big “gap” between diners, fast food, pizza, and the “once a month destination” like Nobu or Mr. Chow type establishments in Tribeca. Bubby’s has a long history here. Walkers and Landmarc help occupy this “middle space” to a certain degree, but I felt that our price point and quality would fill an unmet need. The Chef is well known to our partner Jeff Chodorow, and so we knew the quality and creativity would be unprecedented for a “New York- Jewish” upscale cuisine.”

Gypsy cabs illegally soliciting people crossing Vesey Street by Goldman Sachs

January 13, 2012

If you have been harassed lately by gypsy cab drivers, out of their car and soliciting clients, as you walk across Vesey Street from the WFC toward Goldman Sachs, you are not alone. As the new restaurants open, they have increased in boldness. A pedestrian can be hustled with the secret “Pssst, need a cab?” four to seven times on one crossing. The scene reminds one of a third world country.

The NYPD are aware of this problem and will be cracking down. Notify the First precinct community affairs officers if you have any problems.

In this photo, all of the people are cab drivers. There are at least seven of them whispering and soliciting fares.

(click image to expand)

Gypsy cabs illegally soliciting fares in front of Goldman Sachs on Vesey Street

Three Cunard Oceanliners Together Again

January 13, 2011

Once again, a trio of flagships from the British Cunard cruise line (The Queen Mary 2, The Queen Victoria and The Queen Elizabeth) came together in New York Harbor. A similar gathering took place in 2008.

(Heat convection currents and the cold air by the buildings made the images a bit blurry)

(In full screen 1080iHD)

Tunnel from WTC to Winter Garden progressing

January 16, 2012

The tunnel being constructed to go from the World Trade Center, under West Street, to the Brookfield Properties Winter Garden atrium is nearing completion. An inspector on the site said that the new glass structure overtop of the west end of the tunnel, to house new retail shops, will begin construction soon. The total renovation of Winter Garden, he said, will take 18 months, which is on schedule with Brookfield’s “Coming in 2013″ banners.

Of note, the inspector confirmed that construction of the Freedom Tower had slowed down considerably. Prior to the tenth anniversary 9/11 event, one new floor was being added per week. That is no longer the case. The inspector blamed “high winds”. However, other news reports have indicated that the 9/11 memorial construction has slowed down due to bureaucracies squabbling over the tab of the cost overruns.

(Double click on images to expand to HD full screen)

West side of tunnel from September 11 Memorial to Winter Garden

Winter Garden

Cheers. Vintry Fine Wines is here! (and high tech too)

**** BatteryPark.TV has selected this store as Best of Downtown for wine and liquor

You can also rate this store here, and please post comments in the section at the bottom.

 January 14, 2012 By Steven Greer, MD

Harry Poulakakos has opened a satellite of his famed Harry’s

Owner Harry Poulakakos

wine cellar in the new Goldman Sachs building on Murray and West Street in Battery Park City. In addition to rare and expensive wines, they are licensed to sell liquors as well. One novel feature of the store is that it incorporates numerous iPads

iPads used to help customers search wines

which allow the customer to search for wines. (Aside, this concept will be coming to dining soon, as an augmentation to the servers who often disappear and neglect tables). For a full discussion with Harry about his wine collection, please see our video below (3-minute-mark) where he gives us a tour of his home base cellar on Pearl Street.

The New York Times wrote this review of Vintry Fine Wines: “A bottle of reasonably priced red to enjoy with dinner is stock-in-trade at most wine shops, including Vintry Fine Winesin Battery Park City. But this sleek, well-lighted new store, with eye-level displays of about 2,500 bottles, including 85 Champagnes and 24 kosher wines, goes well beyond the everyday.

Its well-curated selection includes more than 75 large bottles,

Photo in NY Times review

magnums and up. Among the highlights are a double magnum of 1991 Dominus and a five-liter bottle of 1990 Mayacaymus cabernet sauvignon (third and fourth from left), a double magnum of 1970 Château Mouton-Rothschild (center), and a magnum of 1978 Château Pétrus and one of 1989 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape (far right). Also, a rare magnum of 1981 Château d’Yquem (bottom center). These bottles range from about $1,000 to $7,500.

And those are not the only impressive attractions in the store, which also specializes in California cult wines and French first growths from vintages going back to the 1960s. Some of these, designated Rare Cellar Selections, are from the collection of Harry Poulakakos, who founded the wine-centric restaurant Harry’s Steak, and is a consultant to the store. The shop also carries a small selection of spirits.”

Vintry Fine Wines, 230 Murray Street (West Street), Battery Park City, (212) 240-9553, vintryfinewines.com.

Vintry Fine Wines in the Goldman Sachs building

Urban Meyer introduces the new coaching staff

Ohio State new football coach Urban Meyer introduces his coaching staff. Multiple-time Super Bowl winner Mike Vrabel is now the defensive line coach. Luke Fickell was retained and made the Defensive Coordinator.