Legend has it that when Boss Tweed was at the height of his power, he dismissed criticism of his corrupt ways and means with a single, memorable phrase: What are you going to do about it?
The cartoonist Thomas Nast made the phrase famous—some believe he actually fabricated Tweed’s response—as a symbol of official arrogance Read More
Pacific
Tom Drury
Early in Pacific, the sequel to Tom Drury’s brilliantly deadpan 1994 novel The End of Vandalism, a character finally makes it out of Stone City, the Midwestern hamlet that serves as the backdrop for both books. On a bus ride through present-day Los Angeles, the character observes (or is observed observing): “Palm trees listed south, leaves fluttering in the wind. The Chateau Marmont rose above trees. He knew it was important but not why.”
Last Monday, five NYC power couples—and one real estate tycoon—opened their homes for dinner parties as part of the Parties of Your Choice Gala for the Women’s Campaign Fund, a night that began as a politically charged reception but slowly morphed into a cross between Million Dollar Listing and MTV Cribs.
“Our research shows that Read More
Between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. last Wednesday afternoon, more New Yorkers than usual ducked out of the office for “doctor’s appointments.” No, there wasn’t a spate of seasonal allergies. Really, they were sweating it out at Slate, an upscale sports lounge in the Flatiron District, for the Manhattan launch of Lunch Beat, the international lunchtime Read More
It took long enough, but it now appears as though the gigantic armory in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx will finally be redeveloped into a huge ice sports center. That means jobs, a more-vibrant community and, let’s not forget, jobs.
The armory long ago outlived its usefulness, but City Hall and local Read More
A judge who is no friend of reform has rebuffed a cynical bid to shut down the city’s charter schools. That’s wonderful news for parents and educators who are determined to restore excellence and accountability to the classroom.
But it’s also a warning: the city’s public schools have made remarkable progress during Mayor Read More
The Observer reported last week that at least six City Council members are considering a legislative mutiny against Speaker Christine Quinn, the front-runner for the Democratic Party’s mayoral nomination.
According to The Observer’s account, the rebellious politicians may defy the speaker’s wishes by bringing measures she opposes to a floor vote. One Read More
