Times Square Post-Super Bowl Bash

Of course the party had to carry on in to Times Square, following the victory of the New York Giants at Sunday’s Super Bowl.  It was quite a scene as tons of fans emptied out of sports bars yelling “Giants! Giants! Giants!”  Drivers were shouting the same out of their windows and passers-by were roaring.  Police officers tried to ensure the situation was kept under control through crowd-management but it seemed like they were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people coming out in their blue-and-white Giants attire.  And keeping it all under control and pleasant is important given what happened the last time the Giants were in the Super Bowl four years ago.  At that event, a staggering 176 drunken driving arrests took place in New Jersey which marks the second highest total in the state for a Super Bowl Sunday.  There can be a lot of fun and celebration; but it has to be kept under control.

More Celebrations

Because the city was so proud of itself with its win, the mayor, Michael Bloomberg promised a ticker-tape parade and ceremony would be held for the Giants a couple of days later.  As he pointed out, “Big Blue gave us a game to remember, and on Tuesday we're going to give them a parade to remember.” An anticipated 1 million spectators were set to show up at MetLife Stadium.

 

Union Square Ventures: Hiring Tactics

 

It seems like the traditional job-hunting method of sending a resume to apply for a job may soon become passé. These days in New York, up-and-coming companies are more interested in your presence in social media.  Union Square Ventures asked potential employees to show their “web presence” such as their Twitter account or Tumblr blog and to also send in a video of themselves talking about why they would be appropriate for the job.  It is doing this because it believes this method will generate higher quality candidates since the company itself has a strong Internet-social media presence.

Indeed, according to an associate at the company, Christina Cacioppo, you don’t get much depth from a resume anyway.  She herself has blogged about the company’s hiring process on its website and got the job herself having developed a profile with Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., to show her social-media savviness and suitability for the job.  Using this method to hire people really could be the way to working out more about them, what they like and how they think.  An employer also needs to get a sense of how well matched the candidate will be socially, vis-à-vis the other employees as well as the corporate thinking.  This is an especially inventive way of narrowing down the increasing amount of people applying for jobs due to current high levels of unemployment.

Delicious Dining in Midtown Manhattan

Chic French brasserie, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, at 60 West 55^th Street, Benoit is marking its centenary, having opened in 1912.  It became part of the Alain Duncasse Enterprise in 2005. 

Today, together with Chef Philippe Bertineau, Duncasse has ensured the menu is a “celebrat[ion of] traditional French cuisine alongside seasonal ingredients.” It seems like the only criticism of the food is that the amazing gratinéed  onion soup – divine in its golden crusting encircling a “bubbling gooey and rich, beefy and fragrant” inside – is “exceedingly messy to eat,” according to reviewer Melissa Clark who wrote about it in an article in The New York Times.

At the bar, choose from any one of the delectable French and American wines by the glass, beers and more.  Private dining facilities seat up to 65 guests. For something more intimate, choose the Officine, which seats 10 in an antique 19^th century pharmacy setting from Bordeaux.  There, one can enjoy a personalized menu and the opportunity to select from Alain Duncasse’s private wine cellar.

Midtown Manhattan Feeds America’s Hungry

As well as being a successful business entrepreneur, Tim Bergling and Arash Pournouri are hoping to feed those with less than adequate resources. The two are currently in New York as part of their House for Hunger Tour which ultimately aims to raise $1m for Feeding America. They are performing at Midtown Manhattan’s Lavo Nightclub.

It has always been a priority for Bergling to combine philanthropy with his talents.  Pournouri felt the same.  He said that the two of them had often been approached throughout their career to do charitable events, but never complied as he was never confident he knew exactly where all the money would end up.

While they will be doing this first for America, the hope is that they will go around the world as well, having come to the realization that hunger is so much more than just confined to a third world issue.

Petula Clark Comes to New York

If you happen to be in Midtown Manhattan tomorrow, then you should try snagging tickets for a classic legend who is returning to the area to perform for the first time as a solo artist in over 30 years. Although truthfully, tickets to Petula Clark’s concert to be held at Feinstein’s from January 24 to February 4^th, are probably all sold out.

79-year old Clark did however join other performers in Washington Square Park in “an effort to energize lower Manhattan in the wake of September 11 attacks” a few months ago however.  But these performances are set to be something midtowners haven’t been privy to in quite a few decades and will probably really rock the town.

The lady has been somewhat of an icon since she was a child.  Since then, she has sold over 70 million records, the most famous of which was probably “Downtown.”  It was in the 1960s that she really became popular and successful.  In addition, Clark starred in various popular musicals including Goodbye, Mr. Chips and on stage in The Sound of Music and Blood Brothers.

While Clark still performs throughout the world, it’s been a long time since she showed up singing and dancing in NYC so this sure is big, exciting news for New Yorkers!

Midtown Manhattan Property Madness

Properties in Midtown Manhattan are prime real estate.  This is not news.  But as a new example of this, just recently, an office building in the area (that is currently the headquarters of HarperCollins Publishers) is about to be purchased for $252.5 million by SL Green Realty Corp. (SLG).  SLG specializes in commercial properties.  Right now, the building they will be purchasing is under 91 percent lease.  The intention of SLG is thus to engage in a marketing and leasing campaign through which it will make huge capital improvements.  The address of the property is 10 East 53^rd Street.

SLG has joined forces with a partner but it will hold 55 percent in the venture and be general partner in the project.  According to President Andrew Mathias, the company feels that once it puts its managerial stamp on the property, it will “become a highly coveted business address in the Plaza submarket.”  This would definitely be welcome news for SLG which reported a drop of 88 percent in its third-quarter earnings last October compared to the same time period the year earlier.

Going to Midtown Manhattan with Kids

If you happen to be in the Midtown Manhattan area with kids, you might be looking for something to do.  First, know this: every kid likes candies.  Armed with that knowledge, you are in the right place as you are right by Dylan’s Candy Bar.  Indeed, this will probably be more than just a fun day activity for your kid – it will be a dream come true.  The store is lined with all sorts of exciting candies, colors and chocolates and is akin to a real-life replica of the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory that pretty much every kid dreams of entering.  There are more than 5,000 types of candy available as well as candy-related gifts.

The store is loved by kids and adults alike and has been featured in various magazines including Elle, Town & County, and even The Wall Street Journal.  It has even been reported as being “the best candy store.”  Three years ago the store expanded from 10,000 to 15,000, adding a third additional floor.  This thus today renders it the world’s largest candy store.