Viewer mail: Thank you for the fruit stand help

The original sprawling shanty town created by the fruit stand

February 28, 2012

Dear Dr. Greer,

I was searching the web for some additional information regarding the BPC fruit vendor after reading the recent article in The Broadsheet, The Road to Fruition and came across the  BatteryPark.TV website.  I too noticed how this vendor had recently expanded by taking over the former Gate House patio space as a de facto storage facility, extending the stand to two tables, and installed that ugly  tarp—all such eyesores unbefitting our neighborhood.

Last summer I complained to the BPC PEP, police officers, traffic guards, etc. about their offensive, graffiti-laced truck that was parked 24/7 directly in front of the stand in obvious violation of the parking regulations (30 minute loading/unloading).  Afterwards, the truck disappeared for a few days but was back again.  Most mornings I saw the Fed Ex truck ticketed as it was double parked while the fruit truck remained illegally parked with complete impunity.  The truck has been painted and they no longer park it here on a regular basis.  However, I do continue to see the vendor counting his wad of cash and then start rearranging and handling the fruit and vegetables with his bare hands.  They also “hide” behind the stand opening the berry containers with their bare hands to remove, replace and rearrange berries.  I have never seen them use hand sanitizer or hand wipes.

As you state in your update, I also believe that they are operating illegally.  It is my understanding that BPC is not a designated neighborhood under the NYC Green Carts Program (see below) and this is one of my major points of contention with the presence of this vendor in BPC.  The Program was not intended to serve neighborhoods such as BPC.  It is so unfair toward the other purveyors of fruit and vegetables in our community who must pay taxes, utilities, salaries and high rent.  If folks don’t like Gristedes and I am not a fan, there are multiple other convenient options available.  This vendor faces no such expense and therefore can easily under price the other stores and is held to a far lesser standard.  Residents have various reasons for patronizing this  vendor but I believe the main reason most do is because his prices are simply cheaper.   I believe they also operate the stand in Tribeca on Chambers and Greenwich and this Fall saw a police officer informing them that they  were not permitted to operate using two table stands and are now down to one.

It is refreshing to learn that many others share my view regarding this matter in contrast to the purported “anonymous few” as stated in The Broadsheet.  Thanks for the steadfast follow-up!

Kind Regards,

Francine (Last name withheld)

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

Photo of the Week

Click image to enlarge

The Disney ship Fantasy

Will Goldman Sachs win Oscars?

Update February 27, 2012 By Steven Greer

The Academy Award “best Picture”, once again, went to Goldman Sachs via their subsidiary Weinstein Company (see below). “The Artist” is a Weinstein production.

January 25, 2011

One could say that the acting performances by Goldman Sachs executives before congress last year were worthy of Academy Awards, but Goldman might literally win an Oscar this year. The film “The King’s Speech” is a Weinstein Company production and Goldman Sachs own a large chunk of Weinstein now.

In the mid-2000′s, riding the wave of success at Miramax, the Weinstein Brothers, with offices near Battery Park City, branched off to form their own studio production company. The brothers found plenty of investors and they began to branch out into areas of business beyond traditional movie making. Then, the global depression hit and the Weinstein Company had to restructure tens of millions on loans. This is how Goldman Sachs became a significant owner of Weinstein Company.

When you watch the Academy Awards in a few weeks, every time King’s Speech wins, raise a glass to the Vampire Squid Goldman Sachs who made it all possible. Hey, it’s better than selling Abacus to AIG.

A Tour of the Battery Conservancy

June 21, 2011

Battery Conservancy President and Founder, Warrie Price, gives Liz Conner a tour of the Battery Conservancy

(viewable on full screen 1080iHD)

Steven Greer, MD discusses healthcare jobs, ways to reduce hospital error, and the problems with fee for service

First bloomers

March 17, 2011

Congratulations. You survived the Winter of 2010-2011.

Click to enlarge photos

Aconis

Confirmed: Bill Thompson using BPCA as a platform to run for Mayor

February 24, 2012  By Steven Greer, MD

Op-Ed

Battery Park City Authority Chairman Bill Thompson confirmed, to no one’s surprise, that he is running for NYC Mayor. Meanwhile, he is transforming the BPCA staff to suit his needs and serve better as campaign managers masquerading as BPCA staff serving citizens of BPC. Recall, BatteryPark.TV was the first to break the story of Bill Thompson, via his CEO Gayle Horwitz, firing 19 long-time BPCA employees in order to make room to bring in his own staff.

Bill Thompson, Chairman of BPCA

State Senator Squadron recently wrote a letter pondering the fate of the entire BPCA, and whether the current leadership should be changed. He pointed out that the Chairman, currently Bill Thompson, is appointed by the governor and not elected. Therefore, despite paying the highest taxes in the city, BPC residents have “taxation without representation”. In fact, the hard earned tax dollars of the residents are often stolen by the city and redistributed to help pay off the city deficit.

Other stories relating to Bill Thompson

BPCA Chairman a no-show for the “town hall” farce

The money pit of Pier A

Cost overruns at Pier A

BPCA holds surprise meeting to avoid the public

Bill Thompson replaces the 19 fired with his own cronies

Ed Koch discusses the 2013 mayoral race

A letter to Gayle Horwitz, CEO of BPCA, about the growing filth

February 22, 2012

Gayle Horwitz

CEO, Battery Park City Authority

Dear Gayle,

Now that we have addressed the dog doo issue, can we move on to the filth that has been infiltrating BPC.  I have lived here since 1996 and I can’t remember when it has been this disgusting.

Trash on West Thames Street

I was contemplating documenting with pictures but found that this would be a daunting task considering the amount of litter including glass bottles, cans, paper, foil from sandwiches, plastic bags, coffee containers, coffee wraps, broken glass, Styrofoam and cigarette butts. (And I thought everyone gave up smoking!)

The filthiest block is West Thames between South End and the river.  Gristedes’ is especially at fault as are the 2 buildings across the street.  This happens whenever garbage is put out for pick up.  The sidewalks and street are strewn with all of the above, as is the area inside the fence of the trees.  The other areas that are disgusting is the block where BPC Day Nursery, Benvenuti’s and  Hudson Produce reside.  Albany Street by the Parking Garage is also always littered with all of the above and broken glass and mirrors.  And then there is the sidewalk in front of the Chase bank on South End Ave which everyone has commented on ad infinitum.

The other day I found a dead rat while walking my dogs along the path by 225 Rector and the basketball courts.  It was lying on the cobble stones.  I reported this to the concierge but he claimed that it was not on their property and that I would have to report to the Battery conservancy.  The next day, while walking my dogs I saw someone from the Conservancy and told him. He then removed the dead rat that had been lying there for 2 days.  The very next day, a baby rat walked across the same path right in front of us.

Trash on Albany Street

Today, I walked by the Mercantile Exchange building and there were more cigarette butts in the planted areas than in the sand filled pots.

My question is, who is responsible?  Why are we (BPC owners/residents) paying such exorbitant maintenance only to live in such squalor?

I look forward to your reply.

Sincere,

Maureen Barry Somerville

Construction begins on the new SouthWest NY

This restaurant is not yet opened

Construction begins on the new SouthWest at the old Gate House photo by BatteryPark.TV

Construction on the new SouthWest restaurant

Albany and South End Avenue

(212) 945-052

Fire at 400 Chambers Street

February 21, 2012

On Monday evening (February 20th) at 7:30 PM, a fire broke out in a penthouse rooftop apartment at 400 Chambers Street. The NYFD wrote to us, ” The fire was on the 19th floor roof deck of 400 Chambers Street. The First call came in at 7:27 pm. First units on scene at 7:31 PM. It was brought under control at 8:32pm. 20 units totaling 78 firefighters responded. There were 7 firefighters with minor injuries. No civilian injuries. The cause of the fire , as per FDNY Fire Marshals, was an accidental electrical fire which started on the deck of the apartment.remains under investigation.”

Fire at 400 Chambers Steet on Febbruary 20th (By Mathew Scogin)

Walrus doing crunches

A tour of the new BLT Bar & Grill at the W Hotel Downtown

You can rate this restaurant here

Regional Director of the BLT restaurants, Pamela Friedl, takes us on a tour of the new Bar & grill at the W Hotel Downtown. For reservations, visit http://www.bltbarandgrill.com

How to cut your cable bill in half

August 5, 2011   Updated February 21, 2012

By Steven Greer, MD

If you are reading this, then you are probably a Downtown New Yorker who has high-speed Internet likely provided by Verizon Fios or Time Warner Cable Road Runner. You probably signed up for a $99 per month TV/Internet package that since ballooned up to $150 or $200 per month with HBO or a pay-per-view added in. Those nice offers on TV for free-for-life DVR don’t apply to you. You are just a lowly trapped customer to be disrespected and taken for granted.

There is a way out of that marriage. If you call your cable company, and wait through the phone tree process, and deal with the morons on the other line, you might be able to get them to “do you a favor” and give you free DVR for a month, maybe, but how can you cut your cable bill in half?

Step 1 is to realize that you must call their bluff and actually cancel your service and have them take out the boxes. This will take a few hours of your time and possibly time off work to wait for the cable guy. Given Verizon’s nonexistent service, they might be a no-show, but do not give up.

Step 2 is to sign up with the competition. Be sure to have Verizon email you the terms in writing, which they can do despite them saying otherwise. If you do not get it in writing, or make sure that they document the terms in their caller log, both Time Warner and Verizon will almost certainly renege on the deal months later and claim ignorance “We see no notes in the call record to that effect…”

If you preferred the fast Verizon Fios (which uploads at 25 megabytes per second, as compared to less than 1 Mb/s with Road Runner), and had to switch to Time Warner in Step 1, then call back Verizon as soon as your service is officially cut off. Verizon will then, finally, give you the new customer $99-TriplePlay-free-DVR deal. For $125, you can get the faster upload and a landline phone.

We tested Time Warner Road Runner with the special “wide band”, but it only offered 5 Mb/s upload speed and costs an extra $100. If you do not need to upload large files, you might be able to live with Road Runner.

If you have trouble reaching properly trained staff, we have access to the special “Bat Phone” lines at Verizon and Time Warner cable. Email us and we can send those to you.

Jack’s Unisex Hair Salon

Post your opinions and experiences with this business in the comments section

Jack Cappello of Jack's Unisex photo by BatteryPark.TV

State Senator Squadron wants to give Gayle Horwitz, Bill Thompson, the boot

February 19, 2012

State Senator Squadron wrote a letter to the NY Daily News recommending that Governor Cuomo transform the leadership of BPCA from its current state-appointed, nonrepresentative, leaders, such as Gayle Horwitz and Bill Thompson, neither of whom even live in BPCA, to a more locally represented leadership. He stops short of calling for BPCA to be folded into the city and eliminated altogether.

Bill Thompson, Chairman of BPCA

Squadron wrote, “New York City holds an option to disband the Battery Park City Authority — but an attempt to simply fold it into the city’s general operations would not fly with a community that pays significantly more for services than the average New Yorker.

Still, the city’s option does present an opportunity to increase local representation and ensure greater reinvestment locally.

With the appointment of a single area resident to the board, Gov. Cuomo has taken a step in the right direction; but the community’s voice should not depend on good news floating down the river from Albany. Agreements that I worked on to create new governance for Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governors Island provide a model: City control along with permanent appointments by the local community board and City Council, state Assembly and state Senate representatives.

BPCA CEO Gayle Horwitz

A new structure with local representation could also help protect Battery Park City’s dollars, which come straight from its community through ground rent, community service fees, and PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes). Of course, under any circumstance, the first obligation will continue to be area maintenance and services, existing funding agreements (mostly with the ity in the form of tax-equivalent payments) and bondholders.

But surplus revenues above these obligations, which today are collected in a fund that is jointly controlled by the city and state, should have stronger protections. Just a couple of years ago, $200 million of these surplus dollars were swept away in one shot to close the state budget gap. Battery Park Citys surplus fund has also been used to fund affordable housing across the city.”

The full article can be found here.

Outdoor sports recreation space in the winter

While all of the grass fields of BPC are shut down for the winter, the unusually warm weather is causing kids and parents to seek out sport recreational spaces. The artificial turf fields on Murray are open and have ample space.

Wei West

*** BatteryPark.TV ranks this establishment as Best of Downtown for traditional Chinese

You can rate this restaurant here. Also, please post you reviews and opinions in the comments section below.

Located in the alley between Goldman Sachs and the Conrad hotel, Wei West offers both sushi and Chinese cuisine. Entrees start at around $15 for General Tsao’s chicken and go into the $20′s. The new menu focuses on traditional Chinese cuisine.

(Click images to expand)

Traditional General Tsao's Chicken at the new Wei West, with organic chicken photo by BatteryPark.TV

235 Murray Street
New York, NY 10282

P 212.786.1300
F 212.786.4605
info@weiwestnyc.com

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

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.

Starbucks offers smart cakes with half the calories

February 15, 2012

Responding to the criticism that Starbucks sugar laden drinks and deserts make up a huge percentage of any person’s daily recommended intake, we noticed that they now offer smart half-sized cakes with half the calories. This move is to be commended. (For more on the fat inducing power of sucrose and fructose in deserts, see here)

(Click images to expand and read calories)

A new mini-doughnut by Starbucks photo by Steven Greer

Starbucks mini-doughnuts by BatteryPark.TV