Hell's Kitchen Online 6/26/98

[Hellskitchen]

Hell's Kitchen Online                                    6/26/98
                 "All the News the Times Won't Print"
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In this issue...

* CSDC July Meeting (OK, so it's in June)
* City Council Hearings on 8th Avenue set for Tues, July 14
* More Restaurant opinions
* Developer Is Hot For Hell's Kitchen (Daily News)

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The CLINTON SPECIAL DISTRICT COALITION will hold its regular 
monthly meeting Tuesday, June 30

  This is the July Meeting. It was decided to hold it early,
  on June 30, as next weekend is the July 4th holiday. It's
  also on Tuesday instead of Monday as Community Board 4 has 
  a Land Use meeting on Monday.

  CLINTON SPECIAL DISTRICT COALITION -- JULY MEETING
  Tuesday, June 30, 1998 at 7:30 PM
  Hartley House
  413 West 46th Street (between 9th/10th Avenues)

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CITY COUNCIL ZONING SUBCOMMITTEE will hold a public hearing on 
the Theater Subdistrict/8th Avenue Zoning Proposal on July 14.
It starts at 9:30 am in City Council Chambers in City Hall, but 
the first part is expected to be another presentation by City Planning.

This is the home stretch and time to get back involved. Yes, we're
all tired, but make the time for this one. Details later.

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MORE RESTAURANT OPINIONS

From: Alisa Roost <alisar@efn.org>
More on Zen Palatte

I don't know if restaurant reviews are appropriate on this forum, but if
you are going to hear from the negatives I think it should be balanced: 
Zen Palate is my favorite restaurant in the world. There is a delicacy and
subtlety to their food that is amazing. While there menu may be a little
uneven, even the quotidian entrees are lovely.  Crepe de fleur and
Tapestry embrace are stunning dishes.  The juxtaposition of the curried
sauce with the nutty filet is delightful in the former; the latter takes
mushrooms to a new level.  The chefs at Zen Palate use spices and herbs
and other more naturally healthy flavorings.  Look at Moo shu basil rolls
as a fabulous example of a non-fried roll that is as tasty as anything. 
Or try their sauce that goes with it, the ginger is so fresh and the while
concoction is almost intoxicating.

Granted I am a vegetarian, but I have taken many people there who loved
it; my dad said it beat Chez Panisse as his favorite restaurant.  

Personally, I think we should leave the restaurant reviews to Zagats and
that probably includes this one.  But since you included that thoughtless
review I think you should include someone's positive to balance.  While he
may have found the menu comprised of "dirt clods" I find many menus mostly
cholesterol clods.  I don't eat at steak houses and I don't post when I
don't like them.  Can't people just accept to not eat at a place instead
of insulting the menu, and by implication people who like it?
(And no, I don't work there.)

From: Ruth <ruth@randallwallace.com>
Subject: Azuri Cafe

I was very pleased to find your restaurant listings online.  There are
so many places I haven't had time to try, so it's great to have your
descriptions available.  I love our neighboorhood!  And I love food!

You absolutely must give this Israeli restaurant a try and add it to
your list:  Azuri Cafe.  If you haven't been there yet, it's some of the
finest falafel around.  The owner is also the cook and the prices are
low and although it is very tiny, the atmosphere is friendly and . . .
I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Azuri Cafe is on the north side of 51st between 9th and 10th.  (closer
to 10th)

PS - Divina Commedia  (or Divina Restaurant, now, I guess)  is sadly a
very unfortunate eatery.  I walked by the place countless times and
wondered why they were always so empty and eventually why they were
almost desperately reducing their prices and handing out coupons to
passers-by.  Then I ate there.  Oh, dear.  One of our entrees was
ravioli, the filling of which was rock hard and virtually inedible.  The
tap beer was flat, and the rest of the food was flavorless at the very
best.  They were fairly gracious about taking the ravioli off the bill,
however, and they gave us free cappuccinos which were excellent.  So be
warned.  If you must go there, just have a cappucino.  But why not just
go to the Coffeepot for that?

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Developer Is Hot For Hell's Kitchen
Daily News, June 23, 1998
By PETER GRANT

Leading real estate developer Douglas Durst is taking control of an entire block in Hell's Kitchen
and plans to develop a $600 million residential, office and television studio complex, sources
said yesterday.

With his massive Conde Nast office tower nearing completion in Times Square, Durst is planning his
next development for the block between 57th and 58th streets and 11th and 12th avenues.

Durst's plans are a vivid sign that the next phase of the city's development boom will include the
gritty manufacturing district on the West Side.

Durst's block is the site of Artkraft Strauss Sign, the venerable manufacturer of huge signs that
adorn Times Square and other prominent sites.

With the city and state finally moving forward with plans to create a park along the Hudson River,
developers are eying the nearby car dealerships and warehouses as hot residential properties.

"It's going to be the equivalent of living next to Central Park," said Mitchell Moss, a professor
of urban planning at New York University.

West 57th St., between 11th and 12th avenues, also is the location of the Copacabana, the famed
nightclub that moved there in the early 1990s from its better-known location on the East Side.

Durst could not be reached for comment.

But sources say he reportedly envisions building a 1.5 million-square-foot complex of apartments,
television studios and office space in separate phases. The apartment tower would rise about 30 to
40 stories, offering residents unobstructed views of the Hudson River, New Jersey and the proposed
park.

Durst also is hoping to tap into the growing demand for television production facilities.

CBS is close to announcing plans to develop a huge studio just a few blocks north of Durst's site
in Donald Trump's Riverside South project. That is expected to make the West Side the place to be
for a wide range of television-related businesses.

Durst's plan does face one big obstacle: He would have to get the zoning changed on the block,
which currently is limited to manufacturing. That may trigger community opposition.

Mary Brendle, the former chairwoman of the area's community board, predicted that concerns would
include the possible loss of manufacturing jobs and the "steady march" of high-rise apartment
buildings into Hell's Kitchen.

But Brendle added community groups may be amenable to working with Durst.