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What's On the Ballot? Four Referendum Questions in November

You might have received Assemblyman Gottfried's Fall 2005 newsletter in the mail. If not, it's worth checking out before the November 8 election for a clear, concise (albeit subjective) explanation of the ballot referendum questions. Here's the summary of the summary:

Question 1 is the budget reform amendment to the State Constitution. It would eliminate late budgets, open the process for the public, and help protect funding for education and health care. I support this amendment.

Question 2 is the $2.9 billion bond issue for subways, buses, roads and other transportation. Half the money would go for the MTA. Our transit system desperately needs this help. I support the bond issue.

Question 3 would amend the City Charter to have the Mayor enact ethics rules for administrative hearing officers. The problem, again, is that it shifts power to the Mayor and away from our City Council. I oppose this amendment.

Question 4 would amend the New York City Charter to adopt more detailed rules about balancing the City budget. The problem is it would shift too much power to the Mayor and away from our City Council. I oppose this amendment.

Vintage Clothing

If you haven't stepped down into The Family Jewels vintage clothing shop (130 W 23rd St) you're missing out on quite an amazing collection. For me, certain pieces of clothing take me back to particular childhood situations. I can see my father in his bathing suit at Sandy Hook, or an aunt in one of those dresses that only women over 70 can pull off.

Now that it's getting chilly -- it's supposed to get down to 39 degrees tonight -- I'm tempted to do a little coat shopping.

Another Reason Not to Shop at Duane Reade: Access to Contraceptives

MUG follows the story of pharmacists who refuse to fill contraceptive prescriptions...

Despite repeated attempts, no spokesperson from Duane Reade would make themselves available to discuss the subject. To our way of thinking, just another reason not to shop there.

As if you needed another reason. The crowded, messy store on Eighth and 24rd is a stark contrast to the clean, well-lit CVS across the street.

Mod lighting at CVS

More food: NYC Burger and Cafe Fillipe

Here's two of the new northeast Chelsea food joints...

New York Burger Co. (678 Sixth Ave.) of which New York magazine claims is, "neither practically virtuous like Better Burger nor unapologetically greasy-spoon like Burger Joint." But they're served on brioche buns. Yum.

Cafe Fillipe (202 7th Ave) is a handsome little shop serving Mediterranean/American cuisine for dine-in, take-out or delivery.

Two-Man Crew Embarks on Three-Year Trip at Sea from Chelsea Pier

Can you imagine going out on a little sailboat around the world for 1000 days? I get sea sick in my father's fishing boat putting around the bay in New Jersey, I can hardly imagine this...

"There are going to be a lot of beautiful times that we can't even imagine," said Stowe, an experienced sailor who built his boat, the schooner Anne, himself.

"But there will be times when the wind is howling, lightning is striking, it's black and we've had to tie ourselves into bed because we're going 50 feet up and down."

Beware of 101 West 23rd Street

Curbed solves the mystery of the huge one-bedroom with the sinking price...

"...we asked the broker why the maintenance (more than $1700 month) was so high. It turns out, the co-op doesn't actually own the land upon which the building sits -- they pay rent to a landlord who owns the land, which is why it's so much money. The sketchy part is that... while there's a lease in place until 2040, the landlord might be able to revoke the lease whenever he feels like it and sell the land, and thus screw over everyone in the building if, say, the new landlord wanted to tear down the building and build a luxury high-rise."

Maybe they can buy the air rights over the land??

D'Or Ahn - Got the Kinks Out Yet?

Photo courtesy Noah Kalina

Of D'Or Ahn (207 Tenth Ave between 22nd and 23rd), New York Magazine says, "Korean-American chef Rachel Yang, late of Alain Ducasse and Per Se, marries Korean flavors to French technique in dishes like pressed veal feet with sesame leaf and honshimeji mushrooms, and pepper-crusted rib eye with oxtail ragoût and mung-bean cake."

But is it good? The chowhounds don't think so, though the unwashed masses do. This all just makes me more curious.