OMFG! Mayor Bloomberg is totally freaking out over Blake Lively

Yesterday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference for the 100th episode of Gossip Girl.
"I just don't see how Blair could marry Prince Louis when she's clearly in love with Chuck," said the New York mayor, who has nothing bigger on his plate to worry about right now. "I just wish that Nate and Vanessa had been able to work things out... But again I'm just a casual fan."

By itself, this might have been an irreverent, fun comment, written by one of his younger staffers. But look more closely, and it becomes clear that Mayor Bloomberg is, in fact, a 16-year-old teenager on the verge of womanhood.

1. Gossip Girl: OMFG! The fact that we can't even verify if Mayor Bloomberg was up to date on his Vanessa/Nate romance (didn't she leave the show awhile ago?) confirms that we are not young women obsessed with Chace Crawford. But the mayor of New York City just very well might be.

2. An obsession with Lady Gaga: He kissed her when the ball dropped on 2012, ensuring a shout-out to her "favorite little monster" in Gaga's next YouTube video. Skweeee!

3. He's on FourSquare: Seriously. He's collected 8 badges too, which isn't a lot, but his "tips" definitely include a Shake Shake run.

4. His "Check In" to the Smash premiere party last night: The NBC show (premiering after the Superbowl, for all of you that have forgotten the show's already ubiquitous promos) that offers a "backstage glimpse" into the world of Broadway theater doesn't exactly strike us as a high-brow, serious drama. It looks more like, um, Rent. Meets Showgirls. Meets that Christina Aguilera film Burlesque. And Mayor Bloomberg already loves it!

5. He keeps a diary: When you come down to it, what's the difference between a teenager with a Tumblr and editorials in Bloomberg View? Well, the latter probably has less readers. It's like a secret diary! Next thing we know, his column is just going to start being adorable cat pictures. It will most likely be an improvement.

And a federal holiday couldn't keep Foursquare's 80-plus team away from their new home, which was designed by Ajay Chopra of Echo Design + Architecture.

The Foursquare gang's all there right now, marveling at the 28,000 square foot office that features abundant desk space (elbow room was hard to come by in the cramped confines of its old home at 36 Cooper Square), a ping pong table, and beautiful views of their new SoHo nabe.

The Commercial Observer has an exclusive insider's peek at the new office space. Come take a gander.

Foursquare, which will be moving out of its current office at 36 Cooper for the top two floors at 586 568 Broadway, has tabbed one-year-old architectural firm Echo Design + Architecture to lead the design for its 10th-floor office space.

568 Broadway

Their new office will be both minimalist and high-tech, incorporating the theme of Foursquare's iconic "badge" to "reflect the corporate identity," said Ajay Chopra, the 37-year-old owner of Echo Design + Architecture.

"The badges represent Foursquare's identity in many ways, and we sort of captured that through the space," said Mr. Chopra, who declined to explain how, exactly, that theme will be mapped out.

The company's tenth-floor office will be 20,000-to-28,000 square feet, and will feature the open and collaborative space–open desks, conference rooms–that has become de rigueur for any tech headquarters in Silicon Alley.

The space will also have an eye for future hires.

"There is plenty of room for expansion, and we definitely planned the build-out with future growth in mind since we're continuing to hire aggressively," said Erin Gleason, a foursquare spokeswoman.

The design of the office will be relatively simple, using glass, steel, and a "vibrantly painted gypsum board" in the build-out, according to a press release from Aragon Construction, the management firm handling the renovations.

Foursquare's Old Office

There will be main reception area stocked with iPads "for a tech savvy entranceway that can be programmed for different themes," according to the press release.

But it will be mostly light on quirks. There are currently no plans to copy Google's in-office Segways or Shelby.tv's 300-square-feet turf, all the better for playing ping pong barefoot. What quirks will make it into the final design will be revealed when foursquare's office opens in January.

"It hasn't been too quirky, and if there is, we will have to reveal that at some point, I cannot reveal that now," said Mr. Chopra.

The eleventh floor will be subleased initially and is currently not undergoing renovation, said Ms. Gleason.

The London-born Mr. Chopra said he received an email from a Foursquare representative in October inviting him on a tour through the company's 56,000-square-foot Soho space.

Within a week, he was hired for the job.

"They do not waste time," he said.

Since launching 2009, Foursquare has grown at a steady rate, opening an office in San Francisco and increasing its headcount to close to 100 people. Earlier this year, the company raised $50 million in funding through VCs like Union Square Ventures and Spark Capital.

568 Broadway is already the home of restaurateur Keith McNally's business operations and a Bliss spa.

drosen@observer.com

Treat Yo Self!

Updated below with a response from list founder Alisha M.

Foursquare, the social-networking app that allows you to "check in" to venues, become a mayor, meet up with your friends, and find out which Starbucks locations have been masturbated in, now has a new crowd-sourcing function. In the words of Parks and Recreation's Tom Haverford, it's time to "Treat Yo Self!"

In the recent episode "Pawnee Rangers" Tom (played by Aziz Ansari) explains that "Treat Yo Self" is an annual tradition where he and former coworkers Donna go to the mall and...well...treat themselves. Treating yo self can apply to buying anything from a massage, mimosas, fine-leather goods, to a fully-functioning  Batman costume.

Yesterday, a FourSquare user named Alisha M. started a New York list called "Treat Yo Self," naming NYC's best spots to get pampered. New York's "Treat Yo Self" list quickly went viral on sites like Buzzfeed, leading some to speculate that it was part of a Foursquare marketing tie-in with NBC. (Foursquare has frequently collaborated with outside corporations and networks, including Bravo, The History Channel, The Wall Street Journal, and Pepsi to name a few.) However, when The New York Observer asked co-founder Dennis Crowley if this comedy spin-off was part of a promotion, he responded via email: "ha, random user generated content i believe :)"

It's the smiley face emoticon that sold us. Still, Alisha M. may not be just a "random user." She describes herself on Twitter as a "social biz consultant & event schmoozer." Her resume lists her current profession as a freelance writer and social business consultant:

I assist travel networks, start-up companies, social enterprises, and small businesses on content marketing and audience development through marketing outreach, leading events, business development and social media. My strengths here are being an insightful writer, leading marketing and tech research, running community outreach, and providing insight on PR tactics.

So is Treat Yo Self's FourSquare just a clever crossover hit, or a clever viral marketing stunt?

Update: Just a crossover hit! Alisha responded to us via e-mail (and in the comments):

It was a silly idea I had the other night after having a nice dinner at Tea and Sympathy to create a list of places I go to when I want to splurge. And, being a huge fan of Parks and Rec, I wanted to dub it TREAT YO SELF. I have no affiliation with the show, it's simply my own homage to the show and of course the city I love.

So just genuine show-love and pampering tips! Go on everyone, treat yo self to one of Alisha's tips:

Be careful where you go potty.

You may have already heard of Mister PeePee, a man on a mission to go around jerking off in every Starbucks bathroom in the city and then rating the lavatory on several key factors. (I.e. cleanliness, whether or not anyone knocked while he was trying to do his business, coffee taste). What you don't know is how Mister Peepee is actually doing you a service.

First of all, think about how time-consuming this prospect is. There are approximately 298 Starbucks in Manhattan, and unless this guy can masturbate to completion more than twice a day, every day, than it's going to take him almost half a year of non-stop jerkin' in order to complete his project.

Secondly -- and we say this as a group comprised of at least some women -- we'd like to know where the cleanest, friendliest Starbucks bathrooms are. Sometimes you just need to go, you know? And yes, when you use a bathroom at Starbucks, like all public restrooms, there is already a built-in issue of wondering whether or not someone has masturbated onto the toilet seat. It's just part of life! At least by following Mister PeePee's FourSquare account you will know for sure that masturbation has occurred in the bathroom, and that - since Starbucks employees will hopefully also be clued into the situation - the room has already been sterilized with lye.

If you are more of a citizen journalist type, you could always use Mister PeePee's list to see the locations he hasn't visited yet, and then lay in wait until you hear moaning behind the door. Then it will be your time to pounce!

Nothing has been signed, but the deal has been in the works for more than two weeks and appears set to close soon. "We're in the process of drafting the lease with Foursquare," said Richard Pierpoint, real estate manager for Scholastic, which leases space at the building.

It's not easy to find office space to accommodate the needs of a fast-growing startup. Most young Silicon Alley companies are in fierce competition for talent, so location matters--startups want the usual proximity to transportation and reasonable prices, but also require a hip neighborhood and room to rapidly expand. "There's very little in that size range, and creative loft-like space is hard to come by in general, said one broker who works on similar deals.

Among startups, it would seem that 568 Broadway, a sunny elevator building at the confluence of eight subway lines, is in high demand. Foursquare was up against another buzzy, fast-growing startup: Tumblr, which raised $85 million in September and was also interested in the space, said multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Scholastic decided to go with Foursquare. "They’re not pursuing 568 Broadway now or in the future," said a source familiar with the deal, of Tumblr. "Obviously, they’re in the market for a lot of space."

Another local rockstar, ZocDoc, which recently raised $75 million from Goldman Sachs and Facebook investor Digital Sky Technologies, occupies the teal-painted ninth floor of the building.

The space was originally offered for a sublease through April 2013. However, the deal is being directly negotiated between Foursquare and Scholastic, bypassing the building's leasing office. Because at least three offers came in for the space at the same time, and Scholastic had been scouting for a broker but hadn't found one yet, the company decided to negotiate directly.

Foursquare, founded in 2009, has more than 70 employees in New York and is currently hiring for another 18. The company also recently opened a San Francisco office. The two floors at 568 Broadway will give the company a combined 56,000 square feet.

Foursquare, which declined to comment, is represented by Sean Black of Jones Lang LaSalle. Brokers Matt Bergey and Matt Saker of CB Richard Ellis were representing Tumblr.

Game, set, match.

The Observer took in a few rounds of racquet sports last week at the stunning Tennis Club Grand Central, a single court hidden within the train station. The event mixed tennis pros with tech types, including First Round Capital's Charlie O'Donnell and Social Media Week's Toby Daniels.

It was all part of Get Served, a tech-meets-tennis event put on by hostess with the most-est Emily Gannett and her IRL productions. We didn't quite make it to the finals, a doubles match involving AdWeek's Dylan Byers. Sadly Mr. Byers and his partner lost to a pair of stunning sexy-tagenarians, who proved consistency, not power, is the real killer on the court. Better luck next time, Mr. Byers.

After all the balls were played, The Observer joined former Wired writer Eliot Van Buskirk, who now runs the music app blog Evolver.fm, to have our swings recorded and analyzed via video. Mr. Buskirk, a former tennis coach at Harvard, had the better forehand, but we proved once again to be the master of the backhand (compliment).

From there it was off to the bar, where we sipped some 18-year-old cherry oak-aged Macallan single malt and discussed the finer points of startup life with Mr. Red Tie himself Gary Sharma, ER Accelerator's Murat Aktihanoglu.

Ms.  Gannett grabbed us and steered us towards the photo booth. "Get your picture taken with Roger Federer." And there he was, that rough smile, dimpled chin, astonishingly large head. He seemed smaller in real life ... and had a bit of a gut.

"Pretty good right? I found him on Craiglist," Ms. Gannett explained of her photo Federer. Personally The Observer would have used Zaarly, but same difference. As we headed out for the night, Foursquare co-founder Naveen Selvadurai was checking in for a photo with Faux Federer. Priceless.

Read More

Mayor Bloomberg visits Foursquare’s headquarters in advance of “Foursquare Day.” April 14, 2011 (Photo Credit: Spencer T Tucker)

2012: Charlie Rose hosts Oct. 11 debate. [Keach Hagey]

2012: Pawlenty's pollster privately acknowledged his boss isn't that conservative. [Ben Smith]

Writing Obama: Ball sends the president a letter about emergency radios. [Nick Reisman]

Cuomo's Money: State is "functionally bankrupt." Unions shouldn't expect raises. [Joe Spector]

Cuomo's Critic: A notable one, Blair Horner, departs NYPIRG. [Liz Benjamin]

Bloomberg's Deposition: "Your reading is good," the mayor says to an opposing lawyer. [David Chen]

Trump's Language: "[F]irst major gaffe of his latest fake presidential campaign." [Steve Kornacki]

Trump's Language: [R]eminiscent of the Jim Cow," says former NAACP honcho. [Josh Benson]

Trump's Language: Makes the headline in the Daily News. [Glenn Blain and Lukas Alpert]

Trump's Language: Raises eyebrows, to say the least. [Colby Hall]

Trump's Language: Still shocking. [Roland Martin]

Covering Trump: A reader, named Donald, criticizes my coverage. [Observer]

Turnaround: Tracy Morgan says he's investigating Trump. [Ben Yakas]

Media: Long format will survive, according to Rolling Stones. [Joe Pompeo]

Pictures: Queens Tribune executive Michael Nussbaum gets into Rory Lancman's photo. [Flickr]

Foursquare employees have been dogfooding the much-rumored feature since last fall, trying to figure out the best way to organize and present it. "This has been the vision since the beginning," head of product Alex Rainert told The Observer. But there was housekeeping to take care of first--the company had to scale infrastructure to keep up with its rapid growth and chose to build relatively simple features like adding photos and comments to check-ins before making the jump from passively recording what people are doing, to telling them what they should do. "The entire Foursquare experience is moving to the next level, beyond the check-in or the game," Mr. Rainert told The Observer.

Another recent change--capping the number of "friends" who can always see a single user's check-ins--was unrelated to the move into recommendations, Mr. Rainert said, and was about keeping Foursquare a "curated social graph" with whom a user could be comfortable sharing his or her location.

The "Explore" tab lets users look at suggested venues nearby based on what they're looking for. Users can search in the categories "bars" or "coffee," or search with specific keywords.

The suggestions are based on a little bit of everything - the places you've been, the places your friends have visited, your loyalty to your favorite places, the categories and types of places you gravitate towards, what's popular with other users, the day of the week, places with great tips, the time of day, and so on. We'll even tell you why we think you should visit a certain place (e.g. popular with friends, similar to your favorite spots). organized into five categories.

Foursquare 3.0 will also show six new specials for merchants so that users can show up at the bar with 20 friends, for example, and get a swarm discount on the spot.

The other major change is to the leaderboard, which was one of the central features in the original Foursquare but has become less relevant as a few power users came to dominate. Now the leaderboard is restricted to the last seven days of you and your friends' activity. Foursquare hinted that its new leaderboard will include some unexpected incentives that it hopes will influence behavior the way the ostensibly meaningless title of "mayor" has people driving 15 minutes out of the way and inventing names for alleys.

You'll see that we've replaced our old leaderboard (and its simple points system and Sunday night reset) with a sliding 7-day barometer of you and your friends. Check-ins now trigger points for dozens of different types of actions - everything from discovering new places, trying new types of restaurants, visiting new cities, getting groups together, hanging out with old friends, and a few things you might not expect.

Foursquare is also hosting a real Foursquare game on a court at the Pepsi MAX lot on 3rd & San Jacinto, in another example of unexpected ways to play.

Speculative discussions about "what company will everyone be talking about at SXSW" often skip over Foursquare because the company seems like it's already made it; of course everyone at SXSW will be using Foursquare, just like they'll all be using Twitter. But Foursquare, almost at seven million users, is still tiny compared to Twitter--and it hasn't proved itself as essential as the microblogging service yet. But the changes in Foursquare 3.0 show the company is still energized and hungry. Anyone who has bets on which startup will break out at SXSW should remember that Foursquare still has lots of room to grow by winning new users and by persuading existing users to spend more time with it.

ajeffries [at] observer.com | @adrjeffries