78thand2nd

More Babies In UES Bars

Remember a couple of weeks ago when The Times had this? We’ve got more of that with this spot of intel that hit the inbox over the weekend:

“I was at Bar Coastal on Saturday around 6 watching the end of the Cal/UCLA game, and with about 30 seconds left in one of the best college games of the season, a couple wheels in a baby!! Then they rearranged tables for 10 minutes to fit the kid and the stroller next to them -- and the worst part -- the kid (or one of the adults) smelled like a diaper change was in order. WTF?”

“Babies in bars” and the “stench of feces” are on my "how to craft a bad bar experience" list, so I hear what you’re getting at. But it's becoming apparent this "babies in bars" thing is trending upward, so let's do a favor for everyone: Please email us your "babies in bars" stories and let's crown the most likely drinking spots "to watch a couple wheel their kid in" before month’s end.

Baby sightings? PLEASE write in.

Unfortunate Super Bowl Effect: Giants Art

Above, the window at J. Art and Frame Gallery on 2nd and 85th, UES purveyor of, um, fine art. Or at least of all things that could be framed and hung in a teenager's room.  Front and center in their main window -- thanks Super Bowl -- is Giants art.

Sean Connery Sounds Like A Sucky Neighbor

Actor Sean Connery and his neighbor are fighting over renovations to the townhouse the two occupy. The neighbor claims Connery's work to the six-story, 1869 town house on East 71st Street has damaged his property and he’s basically calling Connery an asshole.

From Newsday:

"The Sultans have claimed in court papers that the years-long renovations subjected them to noise, fumes, leaks and rats, damaging their home and ruining their notable collection of Victorian and early 20th-century wicker furniture. The Sultans' court papers also have called Connery the antithesis of the suave spy he famously played, branding him "a bully who ignores norms of neighborliness and decency," blasts loud music and has refused to quiet down."

With all that racket, Connery sounds a lot like my upstairs neighbor - a Nicole Richie look-a-like – who seems to enjoy getting drunk and hauling out, what sounds like, a bass guitar at roughly 12:30 a.m. each night to work on her chord progressions. It’s not fun. But dude, come on, Connery’s almost 80. If he starts blaring music, give him a cup of warm milk and put him down for a nap. I joke, I joke.

NYSC Gym Rage Incident Revealed

Commenter “Sad I Was There” has shed some light on the “fight” at NYSC on 76th Monday night, which in fairness, should probably be downgraded to a "hysterical verbal altercation," according to Sad’s description of what happened. Whatever we call it -- the re-cap of the incident is pretty damn funny, and leaves me wanting to know way, way more about “crazy guy.”

Sad I Was There’s full comment:

I was at the 76th St NYSE Monday night when this happened. I was on one of the treadmills on the other side of the stationary bikes where the 2 guys were on the first floor. Best I could tell (as I could not hear what was exactly going on) was guy #1 (lets call him bike guy) was on the bike for longer than the time allowed when the gym is crowded (30min or so) and guy #2 (lets call him crazy guy) was none to happy about it and kept asking the guy how long he was on for and if he would get off etc.

Not clear why crazy guy took such an interest in this bike as there appeared to be other bikes open. There was some yelling, overall acting out and pointing by crazy guy, including taking offense to being called a liar by bike guy, at one point he leaned over the railing and mouthed some mocking something or other in bike guy’s ear (along the lines of 3rd grade schoolyard talk). At this point everyone around was looking/laughing at the spectacle. About 4 gym employees gathered around (including one very large trainer) to calm the situation and get crazy guy out of there. Last I saw crazy guy left the gym (willingly or not I could not tell) and bike guy stayed on the bike.

Not sure about crazy guy calling his friends outside of the gym, but, having seen the guy in action I don't doubt it. Could not say why exactly the “fight” started but nobody got thrown into a wall or anything. All in all a bit amusing for a Monday night.

More:
UES Gym Rage, Part 2: NYSC Edition [78thand2nd]

UES Gym Rage, Part 2: NYSC Edition

Remember the whole "gym rage at Equinox on 86th, you're grunting too loudly so I'm going to punch you" thing from the summer? We now have more of that. This time at NYSC on 76th, where a fight broke out last night -- over a training bike.

Details were pretty sketchy, but the gym-goers and staffers were buzzing about it this morning. The only certain facts that emerged: the fight was between two guys, they both wanted to use the same bike, and at one point, one of the fightees was standing outside the gym "calling his friends," possibly to swing by and participate in a follow-up brawl. (Again, sketchy. Was one of the guys in the fight still in the gym? If so, why? Wouldn't both be kicked out?) .

Details, details - please hit the comments if you have details.

UPDATE: Thanks to "Sad I Was There," we have more details here and in the comments.

Triple Collar Threat

Slightly off topic, but worth mentioning in light of the recent bantering of the collar pop. HCwDB has spotlighted a doozy. Count them - 1, 2, 3.

More:
The Dude with a Lot of Popped Collars [HCwDB]
The Dude with a Lot of Popped Collars: A Look Back [HCwDB]