By Gordon T. Hughes, Jr. There is a famous scene with Jill Clayburgh and Woody Allen in Annie Hall where the two are sitting on a bench in New York City describing people who are walking by. Well, many New Yorkers with a little spare time do just that. When I have a moment or
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In & Out
On November 30th, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the threshold on the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT) would be raised from $250,000 to $500,000 starting in July 2018. The CRT is a 3.9% tax on rents in Manhattan below 96th Street that exceed the threshold. This is the first change to the CRT since 2001.
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West Village: A Food Desert?
By Barry Benepe Writing in the September 2017 issue of WestView, Robert Widmann bemoans the loss of food markets in the West Village. (See the article entitled “Market-less in the Village.”) Naming several, Widmann concludes, “Now they are all gone.” Actually, we have many serving the West Village: D’Agostino, Integral Yoga, Chelsea Market, Whole Foods,
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In & Out
This month, it seemed like everyone was talking about the crisis in retail. The New York Times wrote an editorial on November 19th entitled “Why Is New York Full of Empty Stores?” New York State Senator Brad Hoylman hosted a Town Hall on November 9th on the ‘Small Business Crisis.’ Tim Wu, a professor at
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In and Out
This month, we heard more stories of high rents driving out long-term tenants. But there were also a large number of openings, including the return of sorts of a beloved Village institution, and hints that some recently shuttered spots will have new tenants soon. Open Osteria 57 (57 West 10th Street, near 6th Avenue): Another
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Heaven on a Plate, Italian Style, at Osteria 57
By Karen Rempel I live on West 10th Street, and watched with interest over the summer as the former Piadina at 57 West 10th Street (near 6th Avenue) gradually metamorphosed into Osteria 57. Happily, on September 15th, I attended a champagne reception and experienced bite-sized, intriguing tastes of joy. I’ve returned numerous times to swoon
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Food Shopping in Paris
By Caroline Benveniste I recently returned from a trip to Paris. While there, I stayed with my aunt, who lives in a residential area in the 17th Arrondissement not far from the Parc Monceau. One of the best things about her neighborhood is that she is only a block or so from a wonderful pedestrian
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In and Out
By Caroline Benveniste As always, the fall brings with it a spate of openings, and an even longer list of anticipated openings. Some long-awaited restaurants need a bit more waiting, such as Pasta Flyer. Italian restaurants continue to flock to the Village, and increasing numbers of old-fashioned barbershops are popping up in the area. Open
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Tracking Changes in the Village
Dear Editors: I just looked at the August issue of WestView and noted that the recent passing of Paul Bellardo was not mentioned. I assume that was because you had already gone to press when he died. I remember well his shop on Christopher Street. I also noticed that, in “In and Out,” you say
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Amazon Buys Whole Foods and Cuts Prices
By George Capsis Oh wow! Amazon’s Jeff Bezos bought Whole Foods for $13.7 billion and, in days, he cut prices. What does that mean for us here in the West Village? I mean, I went to Whole Foods on 14th Street only once and found the prices forbidding (a jar of asparagus juice with three
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The Riviera Cafe Dies but it is Not the Rent
By George Capsis “Oh no, not the Riviera,” was the reaction to the closing of this 47-year-old landmark defining the corner of West 4th Street and 7th Avenue, with its outdoor tables and the funny-leaning front door. So, Dusty and I went there to share a hamburger and asked the waiter to send over the
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In and Out
Perhaps things will improve for retail in the Village: A bill in the New York City Council, which proposed raising the threshold for the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT) from $250,000 to $500,000, now has enough bipartisan supporters to override a mayoral veto. The law came into effect 54 years ago and requires commercial tenants below
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Market-less in the Village
By Robert Widmann My M14A bus pulled up to the light at 8th Avenue and—seated as I was, on the north-facing side—I found myself gazing into the darkened, empty frontage of the former Associated Supermarket. A quick twinge or two shot across my brow—guilt (two heavily laden bags of Trader Joe’s stuff sat beside me
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IN AND OUT
Summer is always a slow time for openings, with only three this month. A number of places closed or will close temporarily (or so we’ve been informed) and one scandalous closing has been in the news. Fortunately, a couple of ice cream pop-ups have opened for the summer, joining the growing list of established spots
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Clarifying Statements in June’s “In and Out”
Dear Caroline: I read your “In and Out” column with interest, as usual, in the latest WestView issue. I always welcome your news. But two things you wrote puzzle me. You ended the section by saying that, “Perhaps the West Village is just not a favorable location for vegan restaurants.” What vegan restaurant? Certainly not
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“What, No Hellman’s?”
By George Capsis Even I, the Publisher of WestView, am sometimes surprised by how good our contributors’ articles are. One of the best was Russell Neuman’s price comparison of Hellman’s Mayonnaise, which dramatizes the insane differences in food cost. If you still have the June issue, I suggest you re-read the article. Russell discovered a
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IN AND OUT
June seems to be a popular time for openings. Last year, we counted 12 new spots, this year seven. We were happy to see a small, independent antique store open on 7th Avenue. Two big name restaurants started service this month as well. High rents were cited again as a reason for restaurant
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Drink Pink, By Victoria James—A Timely Summer Read
By Caroline Benveniste Victoria James is not your typical sommelier. In a field dominated by men, it is unusual to see a young woman, particularly one who has already received numerous awards and made Wine and Spirits Magazine’s list of ‘Best New Sommeliers of 2016.’ Victoria is a local celebrity: She is the wine director
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Missing Caffe Cino Plaque on Cornelia Street
Pó Restaurant, at 31 Cornelia Street (near Bleecker Street) for 24 years, closed suddenly, and the bronze Caffe Cino plaque that was on the outside wall of the venue has disappeared. (Read more about Pó Restaurant’s closing on page 16.) The owners have sent an email stating that they know nothing about it. Caffe Cino
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We Cannot Save What We Have Already Lost
By George Capsis The evening of May 24th, I met the Peruvian-born, and very young (age 28) and handsome (he is an underwear model, artist, and former student at Le Cordon Bleu), owner of the week-old Baby Brasa—Franco Noriega. The restaurant is located at 173 7th Avenue South, near Greenwich Avenue—its 100-plus seats were nearly
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Hold the Mayo! The Future of Grocery Prices in the West Village
By W. Russell Neuman I know I should, but I don’t pay a lot of attention to price tags in stores. I should also keep track of sale items and I don’t do that either. But when I picked up a jar of Hellmann’s Mayonnaise at a chain grocery store/supermarket in the West Village recently,
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IN AND OUT
This month, we saw a large number of store closings of all sorts. The closing of Pó was widely reported, and with the previous closing of Home, and the news that Cornelia Street Café is struggling, the outlook for the Cornelia Street restaurant scene is not rosy. On the positive side, two interesting openings and
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A Food Tour of London’s East End—in the West Village
By Caroline Benveniste Recently, while in London, we (my husband and I and about 10 other people) took a wonderful East End food tour. This was not really a surprise, as we’d previously gone on an Eating Europe’s tour in Amsterdam, which was equally brilliant. I didn’t know much about the East End, which turns
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Favorite Restaurants, Continued
Piccolo Angolo (621 Hudson Street, at Jane Street): In more than 20 years, I’ve never had a bad meal at this family-run establishment. I’ve found it a little expensive but always high quality. Its large portions and diverse menu make it well worth the price. One caveat is that it can feel small and crowded,
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IN AND OUT
by Caroline Benvieste The big news this month is the re-opening of the Quad Cinema which was purchased by lawyer, film buff, and real estate developer Charles S. Cohen back in 2015 and has been under construction ever since. Many famous people came to the opening on April 13th, including Harvey Keitel, Julian Schnabel, and
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Savvy Shopper’s Feedback
Buying coffee at McNulty’s, I was surprised to see a handwritten sign reading “Colombian coffee $90/lb.” I asked if anyone was buying it and was told, “Yes, it works out to about $3.00 per cup.” The coffee plants come to Colombia from Ethiopia. —Barbara Chacour
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Briefly Noted: Correction
We received an email from Murray’s Cheese owner Rob Kaufelt thanking us for our “Murray’s Cheese…” article in the March issue, but pointing out that, in fact, the Cheese Bar was included in the sale of Murray’s to Kroger. —Caroline Benveniste
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In and Out
This month saw fewer closings than February. Plus, two long-awaited restaurants finally opened—Greenwich Steakhouse and Hot N Juicy Crawfish. One Italian restaurant opened and an Italian sandwich shop/grocery store is coming soon. Is this a trend? Is the Village returning to its Italian roots? Open 1. Tfor (14 Bedford Street, near Downing Street): This Italian/Mediterranean
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What Is Your Favorite Restaurant?
For those of you who regularly dine out, you have your absolute number one favorite spot where you love the food and maybe the modest prices, the décor, and perhaps the nice owner as well. Will you share your favorite West Village restaurant with the readers of WestView? Email them to westviewarticles@gmail.com. Please limit each
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Reinvented Italian Sushi
By David Porat Raw fish is popular beyond Japanese sushi, and in fact, has a somewhat Italian identity—sometimes referred to as “crudo” in Italian. In Puglia and Sicily, raw fish is popular. Steak Tartare, originally French, also takes on a more international identity and crosses over to seafood with tuna and salmon. At Tfor—a brand
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Murray’s Cheese Purchased by Kroger
By Caroline Benveniste Most West Villagers were quite surprised to hear that Murray’s Cheese had been sold. And many were not familiar with the buyer, Kroger, as it is not a household name in New York. Kroger was started in 1883 as a single grocery store in Cincinnati by Barney Kroger, and is now a
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IN AND OUT
By Caroline Benveniste All photos by Maggie Berkvist. It was a fairly quiet month for openings and closings in the West Village, but there were a number of widely-reported events, such as the opening of Do¯, Milk Bar, and the purchase of Murray’s Cheese by Kroger. Gansevoort Market/Chelsea Market Update As usual, much happened in
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The Funfetti Explosion
Three of this month’s openings are part of what the New York Times referred to as “The Funfetti Explosion” back in October—a phenomenon of instagrammable sweets that incorporate rainbow sprinkles. Bubble Bar features rainbow sprinkles as one of the possible toppings on the bubble waffles. Shown here is the delicious waffle I ordered with Cookies
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In and Out
Open Woof World (91 Christopher Street, near Bleecker Street): This shop hopes to capitalize on the large number of pets and pet parents in the neighborhood. The displays are spare and elegant and the staff is extremely helpful and solicitous. ………. 4 Charles Prime Rib (4 Charles Street, near Greenwich Avenue): The old El Charro
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Savvy Shoppers’ Feedback
We continue to receive astute feedback about food shopping in the West Village from our readers. Below, we have published a recent letter, along with a response by WestView’s own Caroline Benveniste. Dear Editors: May I add: Coffee, tea, and chocolate from Porto Rico Importing Co. on Bleecker Street; a real supermarket in Western Beef
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Annual Taste of Greenwich House Adds a New Element
By Joe Salas From its origins in a gym in 2003, the annual Taste of Greenwich House—to be held this year on March 13th—has developed into a showcase of the Village’s best restaurants and a “must-attend” for everyone following the Greenwich Village food scene. With more than 30 restaurants, eateries including Market Table and Café
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Back to the Future on Charles Street
By David A. Porat Visiting 4 Charles Prime Rib is like stepping back in time, to a small old-fashioned watering hole with good food and an “everybody knows your name” feel. But there is a lot more than meets the eye, or the taste buds. Designed like it has not changed in decades (maybe even
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Rent Hike Closes Da Silvano, Let’s Save Caffe Vivaldi
On December 20th, the West Village lost another institution to the greed of area building owners. Da Silvano, one of the best Italian restaurants in the City, which sat just below 6th Avenue and Bleecker Street for 41 years, closed. Da Silvano was one of the first restaurants in New York to popularize Northern Italian
