Bloomberg Plans Midtown Makeover

Michael Bloomberg has made significant changes to the New York skyline during his terms as mayor, and now he hopes to renovate the face of Midtown East.

Mike Slattery, a vice president of the Real Estate Board of New York, supports the mayor’s plan. Indicating a brown brick building on the corner of 42^nd Street and Madison Avenue, he said:

“These are not the kind of buildings that are desirable today.” He pointed across the street and explained: “This is one of the few buildings that have been built in the last 15 years in the district.”

Said building is glass, and twice as tall as the structure across the street. According to Slattery, the
newer building is environmentally efficient, while the high ceilings and open floor space are more modern and high end. Corporate tenants will accept no less, he explained.

The newer building “competes with Tokyo, Shanghai and London. That’s what’s at stake here: New York’s preeminence as a commercial capital,” he said.

Bloomberg’s intended facelift would add five million square feet of office space and generate $100 million in extra tax revenue per year.

 

Four Ways to Conserve Energy This Summer

While many New Yorkers expect their bills to rise with the temperature, the summer heat can actually be harnessed to minimize spending. Local companies like IDT Energy offer services and tips to help families keep their energy costs at a minimum.

Here are four ways to conserve energy without compromising comfort during the summer months:

·         Be responsible with your air conditioning. For example, turn it off at night and leave the windows open. In the morning, close the shades to preserve the cool air and keep the sun out.

·         Cook outside, when possible. Stoves and ovens generate large amounts of excess heat, forcing your air conditioner to work overtime. Try using the microwave or toaster oven, or cooking on an outdoor barbecue grill.

·         Air-dry your laundry. The sun and hot summer air are free replacements for your dryer, so hang your clothes up to dry if possible. If not, dry your clothes only partially in the dryer, then let them air dry.

·         Maintain your air conditioner filters. Though simple, this is often neglected, resulting in additional running time and extra strain on the system. By regularly replacing the filters, you ensure total efficiency and minimize cooling costs.

 

Easter in Midtown Manhattan

 

For Easter lovers, NYC is a great place to be.  First, there is the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival that takes place in Midtown Manhattan on Fifth Avenue.  Scheduled to start at 10am, participants walk through the streets clad in their best Easter bonnet and finery.  For those who don’t want to dress up but just want to sneak a peak, St. Patrick’s Cathedral boasts the best view of it all – it’s a great family event.

For kids there the Children’s Museum Manhattan is hosting the Easter Egg Hunt.  Kids can make their own Easter collages and decorate real eggs.  Paper eggs will be hidden throughout the museum for kids to find and then exchange for special prizes.

For foodies, the Manhattan Easter Brunch at the New York City Hotel, is the epitome of luxury and elegance, where guests can choose caviar, chocolate fondue fountain and more.  There really is something for everyone in Midtown Manhattan; so this year, celebrate your Easter there.

Pie Face in Manhattan

While Pie Face has long been successful as a chain in Australia, it now boasts three locations in New York City as well, one of which is in Midtown Manhattan, located at Seventh Avenue between 35^th and 36^th Streets.  This one – along with its traditional fare of meat, veggie and other pies – also offers quiches and breakfast pies.  According to Spiro Bellas, National Coffee Trainer, while their specialty is a meat pie, traditional apple and cherry pies, they offer “all sorts” of other pies too.

In addition to its pies, the franchise has earned a reputation for its coffee program, with the Midtown location featuring a self-serve coffee bar offering different strength coffees along with a full service espresso bar that produces Australian ‘flat whites’ (a shot of espresso with steamed milk and a thin  layer of foam).

The Manhattan branch of Pie Face is the largest in NYC, open 24 hours a day and is the first that has a seating area, with wooden paneling to create a “warm, earthy and natural feel.”  There are no artificial preservatives used in the food either.

Caring for a Sick Loved One, Non-Medically

When a loved one is in pain, family and friends are often at a loss as how to help. This is especially true for those who lack medical knowledge.  While one is not able to find a cure however, they can still do much – non-medically – to ease the very challenging process.  In the US, two particular families come to light as examples: the Bramontes and Jim Donovan.

Since there are so many American Cancer Society volunteers, the hosts an annual National Volunteer Week.  2012 marks its 40th year and a whole slew of events will be held for the incredible 3 million individuals in New York City who have been a part of this.  This year’s events will take place between 15 to 21 April. 

Particular individuals who are being honored this year by the American Cancer Society include the Bramonte family.  Two weeks after he survived the Twin Towers attack, Mark Bramonte was diagnosed with CLL, an incurable form of leukemia.  Some years later as his health was really deteriorating, the Rituxan drug gained FDA approval which saved him.  Those around him were so grateful that they wanted to find a way to give back; his wife Graceann became the Survivor Chair for the Bay Ridge Relay For Life; his oldest daughter Chirsta sits on the Relay For Life Committee at University of Delaware and volunteers with the Bay Ridge Relay For Life; his middle child Stephanie  sits on the Relay For Life Committee at Manhattan College and assists the Bay Ridge Relay For Life; and his youngest child Matthew also sits on the Bay Ridge Relay For Life Committee. Mark himself is also active and is now trying to expand Relay in the District Schools. Mark’s cancer was clearly a family affair and proved how even without medical knowledge, loved ones can be incredibly supportive.

Another example is James Donovan.  He was devastated when his good friend was diagnosed with cancer and likewise did not know how to help.  In a recent article he wrote about this issue, describing feeling “helpless.”  He thus sought other ways to support him, by “keep[ing] him positive and mak[ing] him as comfortable as possible.”   However, when he finally lost the battle against the disease, Donovan again felt helpless and wanted to continue the fight in a different way.  While he knew he was not “qualified to have a ‘hands-on’ role in the health care industry,” he put his business and finance skills to practice by “shar[ing] them with organizations to help advance their missions.”  Today he sits on the Board of Trustees of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Board of Directors. He is also a member of The Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, and he created the Jim Donovan Fund for Prostate Cancer Research at Dana-Farber. He is co-host of a yearly breakfast fundraiser for the Institute and more.

There is always a way to help those going through cancer or other terrible diseases and above are just two examples.  As the Baramontes and Jim Donovan have shown, even without medical knowledge there are plenty of skills that can be put to tremendous use so that one does not end up feeling helpless in the face of cancer.

International Safety Group Announces Addition

In recent news for a New York City based company, International Safety Group just announced the appointment of Charles Gargano to its Board of Directors.  ISG is an occupational risk management services company that provides risk management services, construction safety, fire safety and more in NYC and throughout the tri-state area. They are part of the portfolio of companies that OmniView Capital Advisors with Abraxas J. Discala advises.

Charles Gargano has spent over 20 years in public service at the Federal and State level. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson Univeresity and Manhattan College and has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Civil Engineering and an MBA. He also has four honorary doctorate degrees and he was a US Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from 1988 to 1991.

As Charles Gargano stated about his new position with ISG,

 "I am pleased to join the Board of such a quality company that is involved in such critical aspects of the building and construction industry. I look forward to utilizing my expertise and contacts to help International Safety Group continue its momentum."

Michael Gianatasio, President and CEO of ISG said,

"We are happy that Charles has joined our Board of Directors as we continue to build a robust team. Charles' construction, engineering, public service and political expertise will be very beneficial for our company as we continue to work on larger contracts and projects."

 Certainly, this news is exciting for ISG and for those who help them like OmniView Capital Partners and AJ Discala.

Manhattan Bread and Bagel Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary

Manhattan Beach’s Manhattan Bread and Bagel is preparing to celebrate its 20^th anniversary by offering its 1993 prices for a week. The rollback will begin on Saturday, February 23^rd. Bagels will cost 45 cents and sandwiches will sell at no more than $4.55 until March 1^st.

Owner Michael Keegan said:

“We’re making things from scratch the old-fashioned way and hope to continue doing the same for many more years."

He explained that his wife was the one who wanted to open a restaurant, but that he hesitated in the beginning.

“I said, ‘No, I don’t want to open a restaurant. It’s too competitive and people go in and out of business. What we need in this town is a bagel bakery. There are no fresh bagels that are any good in this area’,” Keegan said. “At the time there were no stores like that that sold fresh-made bagels in Manhattan, Hermosa or Redondo."

Since its inception in 1993, Manhattan Bread and Bagel has turned into a 24 hour business. It has 18 full-time and 10 part-time employees.