By Sam Pratt 4/16 7:43pm

Green Apple

farmers

Bedding the Farmer: At Greenmarkets, Lust Blooms Among the Rutabagas

There was no room to swing a scythe, or even a trowel, at last week’s Modern Farmer magazine launch party in Chelsea. The second-floor demonstration kitchen and event space of Haven’s Kitchen was packed to the rafters with farm aficionados. And though no actual growers from the nearby Union Square Greenmarket were in evidence, the palpably giddy crowd did arrive draped in plenty of plaid and checked cotton.

Modern Farmer’s premiere issue features a barrel of non-Gucci mules, plus several cartloads of winsome cowherds. The editorial mix ranges from “barns we like, and those boots you want” to more serious topics like food security, animal welfare and soil advice. Graphically, it helps that farming seems inherently photogenic—and that those who work on farms seldom require gym memberships. Read More

By Drew Grant 4/08 1:53pm

New York prison reviews

rikers

The Penal Code: Ratings for Rikers Island, Central Booking Downgraded on Yelp

Hey, if fictional restaurants from Bret Easton Ellis novels can get rated on Yelp, why not some of Manhattan’s penitentiaries? That was the question when The New York Post picked up the story two years ago, Rikers Island averaged four and a half stars, which is half a star higher than Balthazar. Central Booking, according to the Post, only managed to earn itself two.

But that was apparently during the salad days of New York’s penal system: Today, Rikers has slipped an entire star to three and a half, while the Tombs lost half a star. (Maybe it’s time for the prisons to change their chefs.)
Below, some of our favorite reviews of the correctional facilities in New York. At least we know they aren’t paying for fake reviews. Read More

By Daniel Geiger 2/28/12 1:26pm

lease beat

100 fifth

Knewton Signs Lease on Fifth Avenue

The wave of tech tenant leasing deals in Midtown South continues.

Knewton Inc., a provider of sophisticated online-based learning and education programs for students and test takers, has signed a 16,000-square-foot lease at 100-104 Fifth Avenue, an office building owned by the Kaufman Organization. The term of the deal, which is for the 20-story building’s entire eighth floor, stretches ten years. Asking rents for the space were $55 per square foot. Read More

By Daniel Edward Rosen 11/21/11 3:22pm

The Lease Beat

Infor

What you Infor? Georgia-based software firm becomes latest “Alley” cat

As the old adage goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression.

For Infor, a business software company whose roster of 70,000 clients – Saab, AB World Foods, Foxwood Casinos, et al – are far more recognizable than they are, moving into New York City’s growing tech market is as good as telling the world you’re ready to play with the big boys.

Infor signed a long-term lease at 641 Avenue of the Americas, an eight-story building owned by Atlas  Capital Group, officials announced earlier today. Read More

By Daniel Edward Rosen 11/01/11 11:19am

Lease of the Week

Yelp is on the way.

Yelp is on the Way!

Right from the gate, the Invesco Real Estate-Kaufman Organization partnership behind 100-104 Fifth Avenue followed a simple motto: Go big on tech or go home.

Since acquiring the building in January 2011, the Kaufman Organization has leased 100,000 square feet to new tech tenants, including 45,000 square feet to Apple’s iAd mobile advertising unit.

“We’ve been on a tear,” said Grant Greenspan, a principal at the Kaufman Organization. Read More