October 13, 2008 Issue
Cover Story
Gov. Nice Guy
David Paterson—the good-timin’, confrontation-averse, never particularly hardworking governor—may have to get a personality transplant if he is going to successfully navigate New York through these troubled economic waters. By Geoffrey Gray
On the Cover: Photograph by Peter Yang for
New York Magazine.
Features
What Tina Fey Would Do for a SoyJoy
30 Rock has made a big joke about product placement—and it’s a pretty good joke. But the corruption of television (?!) by new advertising models strikes many in the business as not particularly funny.
Bleeding ‘Times’ Blood
Which is more important to a 25-year-old Ochs-Sulzberger heir: the sense of honor that comes with owning the New York Times, or enough money to do whatever he wants for the rest of his life?
Intelligencer
The Anxiety Index
How a cross section of pedestrians stopped outside Grand Central are weathering the financial crisis.
Shooting the Salesman
As the financial system unravels, the country has decided it’s all Wall Street’s fault. It’s not.
Crisis-Speak: A Glossary
Illiquidity, TED spread, and more.
Venice, But Without the Gondolas
Financial historian Niall Ferguson sees a rough future for New York.
Bloomberg Bets the Farm
Why the mayor’s push for a third term may be the riskiest thing he’s ever done.
The Last Deadline
The seven-year run of the New York Sun.
Columns
Wall Street, Fall 2009
Things look grim at the moment, but where will we be a year from now? That depends on who’s president.
How McCain Lost His Brand
From maverick to crank in an instant.
Strategist
Just Add Gravity
Seven calming objets for a stressful week.
Bargain of the Week
Fifty Dumplings for $9.95.
Court Opens on Mulberry Street
Court just opened in Nolita with a full stable of designers.
The Look Book
"I wanted to combine my loves of art history and fashion."
The Underground Gourmet Review
Street food done to a Tuscan turn.
In Season
Cauliflower is best in fall and early winter.
Sides
Is Ssäm Bar courting a younger audience?
Insatiable Critic
Compass has redesigned itself for the third time and emerged looking good.
Restaurant Openings
Week of October 13, 2008: Lugo Caffè, AQ Kafé, Naya Mezze & Grill, and Bistrouge.
Out of Their Shells
Clam pies on the rise.
Deal or No Deal?
In this economy, a signed contract doesn’t mean the haggling is over.
Culture
Slice and Dice
One man’s vandalism is another’s political art. Just ask Poster Boy, the Matisse of subway-ad mash-ups.
Bro, Can You Spare, Like, Five Bills?
The Great Depression 1.0 inspired tremendous works of art. There’s no reason to expect that the Great Depression 2.0 won’t do the same.
The Theater Review
Never mind Daniel Radcliffe: It turns out that Equus itself is a pretty lame old nag.
The Movie Review
Demme's Rachel Getting Married spins gold out of the very bleak.
Mickey Rourke Wrestles the Undulating Curve of Shifting Expectations!
Oscar season is under way, which means it’s time to be either blown away or underwhelmed.
The Coolest Hand: Paul Newman, 1925–2008
Author Richard Russo, director Sam Mendes, and actor Philip Seymour Hoffman remember.
The Books Review
The wonder and terror of Google.
The Art Review
Martha Rosler, like too many artists, can’t move beyond the easy arguments of her youth.
Joltin’ Joe’s
A category-defying downtown club turns ten.
Rethinking Lenny
Performers too young to have known Bernstein see his music afresh.
The TV Review
The Mentalist floats (or sinks) on the charms of its star, Simon Baker.
Blue Belle
Californication’s strangely well-adjusted Madeleine Martin.
The Approval Matrix: Week of October 13, 2008
Our deliberately oversimplified guide to who falls where on our taste hierarchies.
Agenda
Petit Gourmand
Food Network Fest goes family.
Grape Explanations
In The Wine Snob’s Dictionary, David Kamp and David Lynch skewer the world of winespeak.
Departments
Comments: Week of October 13, 2008
Readers sound off on influential New Yorkers, yuppies, and more.
Artifact: Final Draft
Findings from the streets, files, and hard drives of New York.
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