All Stories | The New York Observer

What's Inside of The Daily?

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:19:40 -0500

So The Daily happened!

We didn't have an iPad, but they were kind enough to loan us, and every other journalist in attendance, one loaded up with a year-long subscription to The Daily. We haven't put it down since.

Leading up to its launch, whenever anyone asked News Corp. to explain how it plans going to make a publication with a $499 paywall a "must-read" the answer was always: "content." They've invested in content. They made...

Another Record, Make That Epic, Buy at Superior Ink

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:58:50 -0500

Ever since the penthouse at Superior Ink sold for a downtown record of $31.5 million in November, The Observer has been awaiting the next blockbuster sale in the building. Turns out a third floor unit has just sold in another record deal. And by record we mean record exec.

Jon Brian Celler, a vice president at Epic Records, bought his new three-bedroom condo on January 18, according to city records, paying $4.28 million for the...

Elsewhere: Kristallnacht, Bloomberg vs. Brewer and Booing You Back

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:38:00 -0500

Leroy Comrie compared today's City Council vote on banning smoking at parks and beaches to the Holocaust. Then he joined the majority of his colleagues in passing the measure.

George Pataki is leaving his RevereAmerica PAC.

After a push by Chuck Schumer, the IRS will stop prisoners from collecting bogus tax refunds from jail.

The Manhattan Institute says the verdict on Cuomo's budget is TK.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer accused Mike Bloomberg of interference.

The Nation takes...

Quinn Chides Walmart for Ducking Council Hearings

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:19:06 -0500

Walmart seems to have a long way to go to convince Council Speaker Christine Quinn that they belong in the five boroughs.

Asked at today's pre-stated Council press conference about what we can expect at tomorrow's hearing on the mega-retailer's bid to move to East New York, Quinn said, "Not Walmart."

Walmart execs explained in a letter to city council members that they are boycotting the hearing because it focuses on Walmart alone and not other big...

Guess What? MySpace is up for Sale

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:50:49 -0500

The tech pundits got this one right. A round of pats on the back is in order for anyone who's been speculating about News Corp.'s eventual spinoff of MySpace, which it bought for $580 million back in 2005. paidContent reports:

"With a new structure in place, now is the right time to consider strategic options for this business," COO Chase Carey told analysts. "The new MySpace has been very well received by the market and we have some...

The Post Dubs Tea New York's 'Hot New Drink'

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:49:00 -0500

Have you tried the new brewed sensation that's taking New York by storm? It's called tea, and today The Post revealed this new trend to our cold and caffeine-deprived metropolis. But what is this odd and fragrant coffee alternative? What does it taste like? Why should we drink it? We've got three great reasons right here.

Lady Gaga "regularly totes a teacup like it’s a Birkin bag." Who doesn't need new accessories! Zuckerberg-enabler Sean Parker...

It's Free to Look: The Upper West Side Penthouse With the Heavenly Views

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:34:00 -0500

Skylights are the centerpiece of many a New York penthouse, but how many boast a copper-clad, 25-foot-wide triangular beauty that lights up at night? Probably only the top unit at 171 West 71st Street. The Prudential Douglas Elliman listing throws around works like "dramatic," "spectacular," "enormous" and "dreamy" for good reason.

Aside from the umissable ceiling, the prewar property at 171 West 71st Street features three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen and two outdoor...

JPMorgan Analyst Turns Credit Suisse Banker as IPO Market Gathers Steam

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:14:21 -0500

Following on the enormously successful, warts-and-all initial public offering of Demand Media, the latest sign of a flowering market for technology IPOs takes the form of an industry move on Wall Street: Imran Khan, a JPMorgan managing director known for his tech analysis, is moving over to Credit Suisse to work on internet investment banking, according to Kara Swisher at AllThingsD.

At Credit Suisse, Mr. Khan will be handling mergers and initial public offerings, among other...

Can Google Come From Behind To Win The Tablet War?

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:08:05 -0500

Google unveiled Honeycomb today, their version of Android built specifically for tablet computers. It showed a good bit of their arsenal in the upcoming tablet war with Apple. The fact that they displayed part of it on a Macbook Pro, however, was an ironic reminder of how much catching up Google has to do.

Honeycomb seems stable, smooth, and elegant--a big step up for the OS. Google is making a really smart move in not...

Flickr Restores Mirco Wilhelm's 3,400 Lost Photos and Is Really, Really Sorry About That

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:32:17 -0500

Flickr has almost nearly restored all of user Mirco Wilhelm's paid account after a snafu caused more than 3,400 of his photos to be deleted.

Additionally, the company has extended his Pro membership until 2036, for free.

"We are still working to add all of the features, but yes, we are slowly but surely returning his account," a spokesman for Flickr said in an email, and sent this updated statement:

Yesterday, Flickr mistakenly deleted a member's account...