About a month ago, Beauty Bar opened another outlet of its growing chain in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The original opened on 14th Street in 1995.

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The Dystopia is officially here: MTA “sells out public,” begins selling naming rights to city subway stations. No way in Hell will I ever say, “Get off at Doritos Station.” [NBC]

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NYC Prep: “this paean to Upper East Side plutocrats looks a little out of date if the camera panned the other side of Madison Avenue, it would show darkened store windows and ‘for rent’ signs.” [NYT]

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This is the 2009 annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade. The weather was chilly and rainy, however the turnout was good and fun was had by all. This annual parade is one of the most enjoyable in New York City. The parade route includes the Coney Island boardwalk. The Atlantic ocean is a wonderful locale to view the creative costuming with a mermaid and start of summer theme. See the full gallery of photos here. Read the rest of this entry »

Yet another Backsider has begun hanging items from laundry lines and fire escapes behind the Coop. They write:

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On the renovation of Washington Square Park: “rich folk who are sponsoring this want to change the character of the park from the free-wheeling street-theater scene to something that resembles their backyard terraces.” Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? [Post via Curbed]

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I have attended the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade in 2006 and 2007, however I have missed the start of summer ritual. This is easy to miss, given all the festivities and lack of itemized agenda. The Mermaid Parade, this year on Saturday June 20, is a celebration ushering the summer season.
The ribbon cutting ceremony is an unannounced event occurring after the parade’s completion. I always assumed it took place first. Wandering in the parade’s aftermath along 10th street (abutting the Cyclone) I fortuitously bumped into the small procession headed to the beach led by Harvey Keitel playing King Neptune (seen in the center of the photo) and Queen Mermaid, bearers of fruit, a small entourage of followers, photographers and security. Excited by my good fortune, I quickly joined the party.
Four ribbons, each symbolizing a season, are setup and cut in sequence - Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. The final cutting of the Summer ribbon starts the season. Baskets of fruit are thrown into the ocean to appease the gods. A mechanical thermometer was placed in the ocean showing a rise in temperature of 110 degrees. The hearty members in the crowd entered the ocean - particularly daunting this year - Saturday’s weather was uncooperative, cool and raining on and off all day. The previous two years were bright and sunny. From a photographer’s perspective, however, cloudy days actually provide better lighting conditions - harsh shadows are greatly reduced and colors really pop.
But the Parade and festivities for this event march on rain or shine - the summer solstice or Mermaids are not daunted by a little rain

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Where to sit outside and hoist a glass (or a cup) pretty much around the clock.

Frances Moore Lapps Diet for a Small Planet, published in 1971 when its author was barely out of grad school, contained revolutionary ideas about food.