Las Vegas
Ian Schrager: Viewing Studio 54 From Age 60
The Starbucks of Sandwich Shops Returns to Flatiron District
In 2003, 'wichcraft opened its first outlet on 19th Street between Park Avenue and Broadway just around the corner from Craft, but had to move when the building was sold. "We have been looking to come back to this area since we left," said Sisha Ortuzar, 'wichcraft's vice president of Concept and Development.
The chain has leased the whole building at 11 East 20th Street and plans on moving its corporate offices into the upper floors next week. This is not the end of 'wichcraft's expansion. In the coming months, look for stores in Rockefeller Center and at 47th Street and Lexington. The home to the $9.50 chicken salad sandwich also has locations in Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Are we witnessing the beginnings of the biggest takeover in an industry since Starbucks? Stay tuned.
- Mark WellbornSeligson’s Booby Trap
Hello, Park City, At Last
Our trusty Transom reporter took the glam low-rent flight, of course, with a lay-over in Las Vegas. Some seriously lame situation at JFK caused him to miss his connecting flight. Naturally, he made the most of his six hours in Vegas, taking in 400 bucks or so at the blackjack table, playing alongside a friendly choreographer for Mary J. Blige. (It's always so much like Showgirls!) We here back at corporate pray his lucky streak continues on the crowded, gloppy streets of Park City.
City-Bred Beauty Bar Franchise Tries To Not Sell Out
"McDive" not as ubiquitous as golden arches. Yet.
This week's Village Voice profiles New York-based Beauty Bar's emergence as the "country's first hipster bar chain."
Yet, despite opening locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas and Austin, owner Paul Devitt is adamant about "not looking to be the Hard Rock [Cafe]."
So he selects his new sites very carefully -- in a desperate attempt to not kill the cool vibe.
Beauty Bar's owners choose a neighborhood in each city that is on the verge and popular, but not yet over -- like the Las Vegas franchise located in the Fremont section of the Strip.
What's next for Devitt's sprawling "Martinis and Manicures" empire? Oh, he's going global, baby.
Devitt has his sights set on making Beauty Bar an international brand -- he's looking at spots in Toronto, Montreal, London and Tokyo while eyeing other American cities like Seattle, Miami, Philly and Chicago.
He's also "talking with Maybelline and OPI" about creating a line of Beauty Bar nail polish. read more »
Um, Paul, what was that you were saying about "not becoming mainstream?"
- Chris ShottTry a Little Sympathy For H.P.’s Patricia Dunn
This House Keeps It Simple— And Ample—for Carnivores
Try a Little Sympathy For H.P.'s Patricia Dunn
So Long, CBGBs, Part 43: Las Vegas Nights
After the eviction of CBGBs, Hilly Kristal packed up the awning and innards. They are currently sitting in a Connecticut storage facility. A few items are on eBay, and the rest is indeed, as suggested, off to Nevada.
"CBGBs is not ending. It's just moving," Mr. Kristal said. "Unfortunately, I wish we could stay in New York but we're probably going to go to Las Vegas because the mayor and the mayor's office want us there and this mayor doesn't care, so it makes a difference." Mr. Kristal had actually had a meeting with the City of New York, and visited a potential venue—a former chicken slaughterhouse, unreconstructed—but the move would have required $5 million up front.
This was at a CMJ panel, at Alice Tully Hall. There was Chris Stein, co-founder and guitarist of Blondie. "Las Vegas is probably one of the shittiest places in the world and in 1975 New York was probably one of the shittiest places in the world too, so in that respect, maybe it's a good thing," he said. With the gentrification of the Lower East Side in full effect—Whole Foods in the Bowery— Mr. Stein thinks it's all over. "I saw Patti Smith quoted as saying 'Well, the young people are going to find their own shithole to play in,' and that's a nice concept, but I think it's a fantasy—because if you have to spend $2,000 a month for rent, how much time can you devote to your band and/or art?" Darryl Jenifer, bassist of the Bad Brains,
Will this venue be able to relocate successfully? There was Darryl Jenifer, bassist of the Bad Brains. "The spirit of CBGBs—it's living it's real," he said. "It could go anywhere—Japan, anywhere. This talk about New York...CBs has founded itself already in entertainment and bringing people to music. That's why I still can't understand why the club is closing."
"I've always envisioned New York City as Escape from New York in reverse," Mr. Sttein said, "where you have to show your papers to get in. They're going to build a big fucking wall around the place and you're going to have to show you have a bank account to get inside."
Despite all this Las Vegas talk, Mr. Kristal still says he'd like to return CBGBs to New York within a few years. Until then, the shirts and book are still for sale, and the MySpace page is picking up hits as Nevada prepares for the relocation. —Sydney BeveridgeCountdown to Bliss
American Idylls! A Multi-City Celebri-Spree
Fore!
We don't really know what to say about this, other than this is exactly why we do not play golf or raise children in Las Vegas.
—Jason HorowitzBye-Bye Baby! Excedrin PM on Guilty Vacay
Bye-Bye Baby! Excedrin PM on Guilty Vacay
The 'Manhattanization' of Las Vegas
Manhattan in Las Vegas.
Somehow this is called 'Manhattanization,' in our favorite trade gem, McGraw-Hill Construction News.
Like a middle-aged rake too long on the party circuit, Las Vegas is starting to show the strain of 20 years of unrelieved excess. Roads are congested, schools crowded, water supplies dwindling and the pressures of growth are distorting the market for construction labor and contracting capacity. Construction prices are rising along with soaring real-estate prices, driving the Manhattanization of the city.
Sounds like Las Vegification to us. Anyway, following that lead is a fairly harrowing assessment of the unmanageable sprawl that Las Vegas is quickly becoming. read more »
Viva Las Wenner! Rolling Stone Is Planning Casino
Andrew's Secret Speech
Take heart: Here's a video of his paid speech in Las Vegas to some 1,700 real estate appraisers. The speech was hosted by a la mode, a software company, at its annual convention. read more »
It is, I warn, a long and wonky speech, largely in praise of homeownership; no mention of the holiday, but not really any news in it either. (Unless it's news that he opposes eliminating the mortgage interest deduction. And that "once the Bronx had a funky side to it.")Charles Barron, On Message
He mostly refused to talk about Hillary, but did manage to take whacks at Andrew Cuomo, Bill Clinton, both political parties, the Zimbabwean opposition, and Hannity.
You can (should) watch the whole thing here. Highlights included his insistence on getting this out:
"You know, both comments are out of touch. But the real story we missed was Andrew Cuomo, who didn't show up to any Martin Luther King event. He was in Las Vegas with some realtors at a paid speaking engagement, and we're trying to get some information from him about attorney general." read more »
And also, this, to Hannity:
"You ain't even worth my slap...I only slap people who are worth the end of my slap."GEORGE AND HILLY
Charlize Goes Ugly-Again!
Charlize Goes Ugly—Again!
Party at Orion Features Doctoroff, Potato Salad
Yesterday, Corcoran's elite brokers and executives mixed it up with a few hundred burly construction workers on the 51st floor of The Orion, Gary Barnett's recent development that will soon be the sixth-tallest residential building in the city. Guests were nervously transported up a rickety elevator to the "topping out party," an event staged when the highest point is reached during construction.
CEO Pam Liebman and new marketing COO Jeff Yamaguchi--who just arrived from Las Vegas this week--were among the real-estate big-wigs on hand.
And to let the workers know their sweat was not excreted in vain, Ms. Liebman informed the crowd that she bought one of the first apartments available. "I know where I'm going," said one brawny guy while giving his friend an elbow in the ribs.
Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff spoke, too, and received thunderous applause every time he flashed his union cred. Mr. Doctoroff enthusiastically proclaimed that New Yorkers would soon witness "one of the greatest building booms in the city's history." What West Side Stadium?
Mr. Barnett, whose Extell Development Company is popping up everywhere lately, appeared jubilant with his 60-story building topping out after breaking ground only 15 months earlier. Afterwards, he dodged a reporter's question about the M.T.A. overlooking Extell's proposal for a development in downtown Brooklyn on the spot where Bruce Ratner wants to build Stadiumland.
People came here to party, not answer uncomfortable questions!
After the speeches, brokers and starving real-estate reporters took off their bright-white hardhats and headed toward the potato salad and star-shaped brownies ("Far above the city lights, right below the stars!" read the invitation to the event). One floor below, the workers chowed down together and presented each other with various awards.
For about an hour or so, we felt some real unity. This must be what it's like to build in Des Moines! read more »
- Michael Calderone Orion construction photo courtesy of Edward Sudentas (Wired New York)
