City - by Josh Becker on Friday, September 19, 2008 1:05 - 13 Comments - 15 views
1. Magnolia Bakery: Okay, okay, it was on Sex and the City and now it’s a New York dessert institution. But that doesn’t mean it’s good. I don’t understand why people wait on line for 20 minutes to get one of the overly rich, too-sweet flavor bombs they call “cupcakes.” Buying one won’t make you quirky, worldly, or sophisticated – it’ll just make you nauseated and wondering why you spent five dollars on cupcakes. Don’t get the diabetes-in-a-cup at Magnolia: If you really like your treats sweet, head up to Billy’s, which was actually founded by one of Magnolia’s creators who split off to open his own bakery when he became dissatisfied with Magnolia’s recipes. The pastries there are worth the price of the subway, trust me.
2. Those random stores on Broadway: Yellow Rat Bastard, David Z, and that “concept store” by Astor Place—does anyone actually shop at these places? The former two belong to that shady brand of New York small businesses, as evidenced by the fact that David Z’s Yelp page is littered with comments complaining about poor service. I’ve walked into a few of these stores and the merchandise itself isn’t bad, but it’s not that cheap, and though they’re sometimes crowded, well…have you ever met someone who actually bought a piece of clothing at that Benetton?
3. Lack of Burger Kings: There’s a McDonald’s on Broadway at Waverly, a McDonald’s by Alumni, a McDonald’s on 1st Avenue—yet the only downtown Burger King is on CANAL Street? The two Burger Kings by my office in Midtown are always packed, so it’s not like a Whopper wouldn’t sell south of 14th. What’s the deal then? Even Target graced the East Village—albeit, for a weekend—but we don’t get a freakin’ Burger King? If you think I’m overreacting, go to the one on Canal and order the chicken fries, then tell me we don’t need one by Washington Square Park.
4. The new motorloop at Union Square: The north side of Union Square Park used to be an open lot perfect for skaters, hobos, and drunk gay men on their way back from Splash. Now the entire area is enclosed by a chain-link fence, and what was once a broad swath of pavement is now…a perilously narrow two-lane expressway? Are they trying to turn Union Square into a traffic circle? Whose idea was this? Take a memo, city planners: Union Square doesn’t need more traffic. Ask anyone who lives in Carlyle or Palladium. Just be careful you don’t get run over.
13 Comments
Chris Kennedy
hi chris! maybe we’ll hang out tonight because its taylors birthday! we only get to hang out on taylor’s birthday! cya ttyl bai!!1!
Jae Honey
There’s a burger king on Delancey (and Norfolk maybe?). Don’t know if it’s open, but I’ve passed by and it definitely exists.
Yeah Crumbs is awesome too. I chose to give the shout-out to Billy’s just because I don’t think it’s as well-known in the NYU community, by virtue of the fact that it’s in the middle of Chelsea. So maybe a certain student population is familiar with it after all.
Oops I hit “Post” too soon.
And yeah, wtf McDonald’s. I am not paying seven dollars for your chicken selects value meal. Seriously, it’s not that good to begin with.
I have to say, though, that I might just like KFC more than McDonald’s OR Burger King. I mean, those biscuits, man…those biscuits.
“There’s a burger king on Delancey (and Norfolk maybe?). Don’t know if it’s open, but I’ve passed by and it definitely exists.”
WHAT
dene chen
Holy cow, I love KFC and i can never find it in the city. Any time I get it, I am either in California or Brooklyn. word.
Jordan W.
I also don’t like Magnolia cupcakes, HOWEVER, they just opened a new place uptown by Columbus Circle that is way better despite the fact that they use the “same” recipes.
dene– 14th and second avenue. Deliciousness awaits you.
jordan–yeah, i’m sure, but i can’t justify going that far uptown for them. unless, you know, they’re AMAZING, but are they really grea tor are they just better-than-the-other-magnolia?
Jordan W.
Just better, but also to the point of being very good. It’s really only worth it if you find yourself way up north anyway, as I’m sure there are plenty of other better places downtown I just haven’t found yet.
Also, now that Insomnia Cookies opened up on 8th street, I may not ever need to eat a cupcake again. And they open at 9 AM (although they still only deliver starting at 8 PM).
My biggest question is: When did cupcakes become a snack food? When I was but a wee kindergartner cupcakes were only eaten on birthdays.
Beau Rutland
Josh,
If a carrot cake “muffin” has cream cheese frosting on top, is it a cupcake?
Jordan–I know, I still have to check Insomnia’s store out. It’s right next to Club Love, so that’s…something. Since I would never ever go to Club Love.
Sam–They’ve entered our dietary lexicon.
Beau–Maybe a breakfast cupcake, but even that’s pushing it.
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Agreed. Magnolia sucks and is way overpriced. Crumbs cupcakes are amazing and accessible.
McDonalds doesn’t even seem to be cheap anymore either, what’s up with that?