I love my Upper West Side neighborhood.
But today, I have a major beef.
Ditch Plains, a wonderful restaurant across the street from my apartment, has closed. And the rents in my neighborhood are to blame.
Owner Marc Murphy did everything right when they opened three years ago. Their ‘soft open’ lasted a month, offering the entire menu at half-price and free appetizers and desserts. By the time they officially opened their doors, the entire neighborhood was hooked. On the menu. The atmosphere. The friendly vibe.
During the past three years, I have been a loyal customer, and from my unique vantage point, I have seen them maintain a healthy business — far more popular with people of all ages than the two previous restaurants that occupied that same space for brief spans of time. But like their predecessors, Ditch Plains’ success still couldn’t scale the exorbitant rents in my neighborhood.
And they are no more.
If you visit my neighborhood, you will see several empty storefronts. They no doubt are victims, too.
This is just the first to hit so close to home.
I learned that my neighborhood qualified for Amazon Prime Now a few months ago, and downloaded the app on my phone.
A rant on ‘rants’
Does tennis great John McEnroe have a history of histrionics?
Absolutely.
But I take issue with media outlets like Page Six calling his recent comments about New York City cyclists a ‘rant.’
McEnroe was speaking with ABC correspondent Lynn Sherr at a Central Park Conservancy Women’s Committee luncheon when he made the remarks, citing his experience as a cyclist himself.
I didn’t attend the luncheon, but his remarks in the article give an accurate account of the majority of cyclists’ behavior in Central Park. They travel at dangerous speeds, don’t break for pedestrians, and have caused numerous injuries and even a few deaths.
I personally appreciate someone of McEnroe’s stature bringing attention to this situation.
Remember when we had unbiased media who filed the stories?
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Posted in Blog, Commentary, Humor, Life, News, Sports, Walking
Tagged ABC News, accidents, bias in media, blog, celebrities, Central Park, Central Park Conservancy, commentary, cyclist, dangerous speed, death, histrionics, Humor, injuries, John McEnroe, life, luncheon, Lynn Sherr, media outlets, neighbor, neighborhood, New York City, news, Page Six, pedestrians, rant, tennis, Upper West Side