"Restaurant" Review: The Brooklyn "Diner"

During my Architectural Appetite hiatus, I went to the Brooklyn Diner for the first time. It's been a few weeks, but it seems the resentment I hold towards this establishment has not waned.

The Brooklyn Diner, as my father once described it, is the "Disney World" of diners. It has two locations in Manhattan, one being situated right near Carnegie Hall and then other in Times Square (relatively new). So yes, the locations suggest that this place really is for tourists -- specifically out-of-towners who have never been to a diner before and are intrigued by that nostalgia connected to 1950's diners that were popular in Brooklyn. Thus, the Brooklyn Diner.

From the exterior, it genuinely looks like a diner. But don't be fooled! The first thing that was an immediate warning sign when I walked in was the tablecloths. White tablecloths. No diner in their right mind would put white tablecloths under their greasy food and overflowing beverages. Then when I got the menu, there were no breakfast items listed. What? Really? Is there any point to me being here? And to top it off, pretty much everything on the menu is over $15 and most of the items are even over $20. And is it worth it? NO! They don't even have those little white after-dinner mints at the door when you're done with your meal.

In conclusion, I revoke this restaurant's right to call itself a diner. I also revoke its right to associate itself with the borough of Brooklyn. So for now, they will have to change their signage to "Untitled" until someone comes up with a better name to describe this deceitful, overpriced eatery.

I.M. Pei's Silver Towers Complex Landmarked

The first post-war urban renewal superblock development in New York City to be landmarked! OK, so personally I find this complex to be a bit of an eyesore, even though it looks very angelic and glow-y with the light shining on it the way it does in the above picture (taken from www.nyc-architecture.com). However! Landmarking is not only about aesthetics, and this group of buildings represents a historic time in New York City and the US's history. Plus, the architect (I.M. Pei) is superfamous and a "master" of high modernist architecture. Perhaps his most familiar work is the Louvre Pyramid.

Part of designating the complex also included landmarking this enormous Picasso sculpture (picture also taken from www.nyc-architecture.com):



NYU, who owns the area, had been hoping to build a 40-story tower in the open space of the complex. Hopefully the language used in the landmark designation report (which will talk about the importance of open space) will make this construction very unlikely (haha, NYU!).

More Coney Island Stuff (Am I Obsessed? Maybe.)

The Municipal Art Society put together a group of professionals/visionaries to brainstorm ideas for the future of Coney Island. They met last week and presented its ideas to the public last night at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. One of the images released from their plans is this:


Apparently robots are going to take over Coney Island. Robots and scary things that kind of look like half-aliens/half-elephant/half-what-is-that-thing-coming-out-of-its-side-and-is-that-a-yellow-eyeball?

The tall, twisty rides on the left side of the image look horrifying. Anyone who is afraid of clowns isn't going to come within two miles of Coney and anyone who isn't afraid of clowns will become so after visiting this place.

I did like this image of a new N train:


I am most excited about the idea for an EXPRESS train to Coney Island (perhaps from Times Square?). With this being the closest beach for New Yorkers by way of public transportation, there needs to be a faster and less patience-trying way of getting there. More Coney updates to come soon, I'm sure. Oh, and I'll try to pick other topics to talk about, as well.

Coney Island Visions

Center for an Urban Future came out with this 22-page document that interviews all types of creative New Yorkers about the future of Coney Island. Almost every interviewee offers innovative ideas on how to improve the area. It's a lot of fun to read and will certainly spark your imagination for everything that Coney could be. Hopefully some ideas will actually take shape in the future.

I realize I've been on a bit of an Architectural Appetite hiatus, but hopefully things will calm down soon and I'll get back to complaining, swooning, eating, and drinking copious amounts of coffee soon.

Good Hole-In-The-Wall Sushi

Small storefront, unappealing signage, only four two-person tables - Kyoto Sushi fits the ticket for a hole in the wall. But that's no reason to overlook this small establishment on Lexington Avenue, between 83rd and 84th Streets. The sushi here is quite good. And while good sushi isn't so hard to come by in New York City, other things at sushi restaurants are:

Cheap prices. It is easy to get a very affordable meal here, which I'm sure is music to everybody's ears during these tough financial times. They even have a lunch special where you get two sushi rolls, soup, and salad for under $10. Hm, maybe I'll have that today.

Friendly service. The people who work here are really nice. Always smiling, always willing to oblige. Which contributes to the...



Overall good feel to the restaurant. The four tables make it a very cozy environment for a lunch break from work.

Fast service. Almost everything I have ordered from here has taken less than five-six minutes to prepare. Good for if you're in a rush or just really, really hungry.

Coffee Pick of the Month: The Muffins Cafe

This coffee is really good. So good that I once walked 30 blocks, passing who-knows-how-many other coffee shops, just to have Muffins Cafe's coffee. Now that I've written that down, it does seem a little excessive.

Anyway, Muffins Cafe is located on 70th Street and Columbus Avenue. This is perfect weather for grabbing a cup and then walking two blocks east to the park to enjoy the crisp air and perfectly brewed coffee.

And no, I have never tried their muffins. Funny how that works, no?

The "What's That Architectural Detail?" Game

I have been busy/uninspired, and that seems to have led to neglecting Architectural Appetite - poor thing. And to think I would do so right before Open House New York, which is sort of New York City's Architecture Appreciation Day(s). Well, sorry not to remind you of that until now - maybe next year?

Anyway, the Museum of the City of New York recently announced that the first phase of their $97 million dollar renovation is complete! The project is being taken on by Polshek, and the completed phase includes a 3,000 square foot glass pavilion, and an expansion underground. Probably safe to build below instead of above, considering the original MCNY building is a landmark and undermining its original structure is mean. (Does anyone ever notice the landmark that's under the Hearst Tower? Are you asking yourself "what landmark?" Exactly.)

In reading about the renovation, I came across this image:


I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what that thing coming down from the ceiling could be. It's kind of in the shape of a vacuum cleaner, no? Or a foot? Maybe it's a desk that has the ability to shoot files up to the second floor? Or maybe a display case? If anyone knows or can figure this out, please let me know so I will be able to sleep tonight.