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Meet the Neighbors! Jay Heydt Walks Fast, Talks Faster

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:37:59 -0500

Welcome to the latest installment of our ongoing interview series, Meet the Neighbors! Jay Heydt has done more than 10,000 transactions in his decade in the real estate game, all without taking shortcuts--that is his motto, "No shortcuts." This earned him top listing status in 2008 and 2009, and he has built relationships with more than 300 buildings over the years. When he is not working, commuting or spending time with his family, Jay...

You Must Remember This: Revolving Dior

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:27:29 -0500

Plenty happens each day. But the devil's in the details. How much do you remember?

-Who may plead the insanity defense for a recent high-profile crime?

-Who's in the running to become the new John Galliano? (Chief designer of Dior, that is, not--all the rest.)

-What actor does the Times think is a real dreamboat--and smart, too!

-Who's writing about Justin Bieber falling down in the Times Magazine--and who's getting credit throughout the rag?

-Who might become a not-so-dark...

Weiner Sells Israel to Progressives: Not An Occupier, Settlements Not in Palestinian Territory

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:03:32 -0500

Anthony Weiner is trying hard to make Israel palatable to progressives.

The outspoken congressman has long been one of that country's most ardent defenders in Congress. He has steadfastly pleaded its case through a series of damaging p.r. incidents--most recently, last year's deadly incident aboard the Mavi Marmara flotilla--and has frequently criticized President Obama for not being a staunch enough supporter of Israel's interests.

But, for a man who has carefully cultivated an image...

Roundup: Schumer's Candidate, Bellavia's Party

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:57:13 -0500

Bill Keller: "If you’re a regular viewer of Fox News, you’re one of the most cynical people on planet Earth." [FishbowlNY]

Recruiting Candidates: Schumer and Reid tried luring Ken Jennings into politics. [Daily Intel]

Rallying Islam: Before Rep. King's hearing, a rally Sunday in Times Square. [WNYC]

2012: Natalie Portman is Huckabee's Murphy Brown. [TheCaucus]

Senior Centers: List of those slated to close. [Wonkster]

NY-26: Bellavia switches enrollment. [Capital Tonight]

Pedro Espada: Trail on September 12. [Capital Tonight]

Bloomberg: More on...

Surveying Property Taxes

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:24:25 -0500

A reader from the Upper West Side emails:

Yesterday I received 2 calls from Siena Research. The first looking for a man and since I wasn't a man, they didn't poll me. Second time they looked for a man of various ages then accepted me.

Lots of questions about how bad real estate was in NY state.

Then at the end, out of nowhere they asked if I was in favor of capping property taxes. There was...

Facial Recognition! New York's Lawmaker Look-alikes

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:00:16 -0500

Is it just us, or do many of our elected officials remind you of someone else? Yes, Tom DiNapoli, we're talking about you.

Seriously, New York's halls of power are starting to resemble an old episode of "Night of 1,000 Stars!"

Check out New York's Lawmaker Lookalikes >>

(By the way, one more resemblance of note—that of this very feature to Spy magazine's beloved "Separated at Birth" column. We know. We get that all the...

Alec Baldwin as Senator Dean Skelos

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:57:22 -0500

Emily Atkin finds famous people who look like New York politicians. If there's any good (awful?) celebrity-politician lookalike combos, stick it in the comments...

Insurance Law Firm Splits for Mack-Cali's 125 Broad

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:53:45 -0500

It's been lonely downtown for Sullivan & Cromwell, with nary another major law firm in sight. Finally, the stuffy concern will get some company through a deal at 125 Broad Street.

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker has signed a 17-year lease for 37,000 square feet in Mack-Cali's budding nonprofit hub, Studley's Howard Nottingham told The Observer. While most companies are consolidating their space these days, the firm is instead splitting its office in two, said the...

Brodsky Lands at N.Y.U.

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:07:31 -0500

Richard Brodsky, a long-time Assemblyman who never hesitated to tell reporters how to cover the state capital, gets to shape the discussion at N.Y.U., as a senior fellow.

Brodsky gave up his seat to run, unsuccessfully for attorney general last year. The notably anti-Albany sentiment on the campaign trail made his bid particularly challenging. But the fact that he lands a job outside any government office and fancy lobbying firm means his tendency to speak...

Russia's Gambling Man Belotserkovsky Loses Bet on Plaza

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:04:01 -0500

As Mikhail Prokhorov and a cadre of globetrotting countrymen continue to expand their presence in the city, one of their comrades is shedding some of his, and at a considerable loss. In the summer of 2007, Boris Belotserkovsky, the boss of Russia's one-armed bandits, bought a sizable one-bedroom on the 13th floor of the recently converted Plaza for $5.1 million. Now, the 1,100-square-foot jewelbox on the north side of the luxurious landmark has just...