Last week

Had the renovation money run out? Was this another project dead in the water? Would we soon see a bank take over the corner?

All seemed lost.

But now the plywood has been taken down and, above the papered half of the windows, you can see new lighting fixtures and dark-wood paneling on the walls that recall the old Waverly.

New fixtures

From the limited view, the new Waverly looks a lot warmer than the original renderings would suggest.

There is hope.

Rendering by Jorge Fontan

Support the distribution of the wonderful film Lost Bohemia. [KS]

At Coney, say goodbye to “Hey Joey.” [ATZ]

I am enthralled by the rediscovered 1950s street photography of Vivian Maier. [ENY]

Zizek speaks to Occupy Wall Street. [DM]

The shuttered Lukoil on 8th Ave. is now plywooded–in a time when Manhattan is losing its gas stations:

In case you missed Calvin Trillin at the Tenement Museum. [BB]

Romy flashes back to 2004 and Skyline Books. [WIC]

10/18: If you’re in Philly, check out this discussion of Bloomberg’s New York. [PENN]

10/18: Dan Clowes and Seth in conversation at Housing Works Bookstore. [FB]

10/25: See Reverend Jen, Faceboy, and Jonathan Ames at St. Mark’s Bookshop.

During my visit to Grimaldi’s on February 9, 2011, with friend and photographer Bill Shatto, a couple was seated next to us. I began chatting with the man. We spoke on many subjects, and when I learned that he came from Staten Island, I discussed this photoblog, my exploration of Staten Island, and the numerous places I had visited, many virtually unknown to the outsider. I mentioned the enigmatic Kirschner Mansion, and in another occurrence of Only in New York, I learned that this man was involved in real estate and had previously OWNED it. Amazing.

Conversation turned to pizza, and of course, anyone seated in a place like Grimaldi’s, where the privilege of eating is paid for by waiting in extraordinarily long lines, will typically have substantial experience in the Quest for Pizza. My new acquaintance informed me that in his opinion, the best pizza in New York, and in his opinion the best he had anywhere, was from Denino’s in Staten Island. If you’re looking for good pizza, one should never dismiss the opinion of a Brooklyn-born Italian, so I filed Denino in my mind for future reference.

On Saturday, October 1, I decided to pay Denino’s a visit. Located at 524 Port Richmond, the place is a landmark, established in 1937. As would be expected, the walls were covered with articles and awards. I understand that Denino’s is typically packed on weekends, but on my visit, it was a case of walking in and seating oneself. Service was perfunctory and a bit uneven. The crowd appeared to be very local, dominated by Italian Americans who have a large presence on Staten Island (37% of the borough claims Italian-American ancestry, the highest percentage of any county in the nation).

The pizza arrived, and I must say that the crust is one of the finest I have ever eaten. The brick oven pie is different, but on a par with legendary New York City icons like Di Fara, Totonno’s and Grimaldi’s - the kinds of places that one patron referred to as “Cappelas di caminetto capolavoro” (chapels of fireplace masterpieces).

Getting to their location on Staten Island is far from the other boroughs of New York City and is not accessible by subway, so for most, traveling there by bus, car, or ferry will be a deal breaker. Unless, of course, you’re a New Yorker on a Quest for Pizza

Related Post: Best Pizza in New York, No Folding Required

Bad news for Joe’s Bar in the EV? [EVG]

You can help get Occupy Wall Street billboards up in Times Square. [RS]

Amusing the Zillion announces a Coney Island “Countdown to Corporatization,” counting the days “Until 7 Mom & Pops Are Kicked Off the Coney Island Boardwalk!” [ATZ]

Part three in remembering Cornell and the Flower Stall. [HNY]

Lisanne follows artist Edith Raw, the walking tin-can lady, down 14th St. [youtube]

“Notwithstanding its reputation as a sex palace, the Continental Baths was a home and haven for many people who lived, played, danced, and socialized… It was a place where doctors, lawyers, clerks, waiters, and the wealthy intermingled with each other at the lowest common denominator of human existence.” [Advocate]

Mike Albo’s Unitard, the Blowdryers, the Cockettes–check out what’s happening this month at HOWL at Theater 80 St. Mark’s. [HOWL]

On St. Mark’s, a “greasy scourge” says the Post as “Drunken patrons of twin 2 Bros. Pizza places have left a sad trail of paper plates, crusts and soda cans”… “Its ruining the neighborhood!” [NYP]

In Williamsburg, fishing for children to get hooked on iPhone apps. [NYS]

photo: New York Shitty

Because it’s never too early to become an iPhone zombie:

Restless asks: Didn’t Steve Jobs “just like a heroin dealer, make it a whole lot easier for people — who naturally gravitate to the lowest common denominator — to become zombies?” [Restless]

If you spend enough time on the streets of New York City and mingle, you are going to experience a depth and breadth of humanity that boggles the mind. Not only will you find an absolutely astonishing number of people with incredible talent, but likely, you will on occasion find the serendipitous meetings to be even more amazing.

On Saturday night, I ate dinner at my favorite local Italian restaurant, Trattoria Spaghetto (as mentioned in my story, Donato), conveniently located on Father Demo Square. It was an exquisite evening. Strolling out and through the small park, I saw a man with an enormous telescope, welcoming all to observe and partake in the wonders of the universe for free. There were no shortage of lookers.

Our master of ceremonies on Saturday night was Jeffrey Jacobs, who acquainted me with the organization, The Sidewalk Astronomers. Examples of “sidewalk astronomy” date back over 100 years. One of the popularizers of the sidewalk movement is John Dobson, who pioneered the design for the large, portable, low-cost Newtonian reflecting telescope known as the Dobsonian telescope.

The telescope was set up to observe the moon. However, I was informed that in approximately an hour and a half, Jupiter would be visible above the roofline of the neighboring buildings. Jeffrey encouraged me to “come back for Jupiter.” I intended to wander, stroll, and return, but instead found myself drawn into the social scene that grew around the telescope set up for observing the moon. The time passed quickly.

However, this is New York City, and the evening would not be complete without upping the ante in some more remarkable chance occurrence. A man who, coincidentally, had also eaten at Trattoria Spaghetto introduced himself. Employed at Columbia University, both he and Jeffrey bonded over their mutual acquaintance and reverence for John Dobson.

Soon, Jupiter made its presence, and I was excited to observe it in a telescope for the first time. My turn in line came. I was able to see Jupiter’s bands and its four moons. Jeffrey was ever the patient educator, helping each onlooker to identify the features and moons.

It was an exciting evening, with lovely surprises, chance meetings, and a fortuitous planetary alignment - just another miraculous night in what could easily be another episode in the series Only In New York or Sidewalk University, but for me, more appropriately called Come Back For Jupiter

Related Posts: This Is Not New Mexico, Back to Our Main Feature, Full Moon, Gothic Night

The terra cotta pieces are included in the warehouse sale of the Landmarks Preservation Committee–the list of items, with photos, is now available.

According to the LPC’s website, their architectural salvage program began in 1980 “to reuse discarded elements from privately and publicly owned buildings across the city. The salvaged items, including wrought iron fences, grilles, brackets, doors, banisters, windows and decorative elements” were kept in a warehouse in Williamsburg.

NY Times

Said a commission researcher to the Times this summer, The idea was to collect these things for the public good, not for some dealer to make a significant profit. The mandate was to help the people of New York.” But due to budget constraints, the warehouse will be demolished to make room for affordable housing. The contents of the warehouse are going up for auction to the highest bidder.

So what treasures can be found there? Aside from chunks of the Helen Hayes theater, there are several cow heads salvaged from the facade of a Bronx dairy building.

from the LPC listing

You can bring home your very own wooden phone booth.

from the LPC listing

And who doesn’t love (and miss) the word PHILATELIC?

from the LPC listing

For more photos and information about the auction, visit the LPC website.

For decades this shop was beloved by designers, decorators, and people who just loved lamps. Liberace shopped here for antique lighting fixtures.

In 1990 Mr. Mattia told the New York Times, ”I love lamps. I’m crazy about them.”

Not only did he repair them, he also made custom lamps out of things like “a bunch of plastic grapes, fire extinguishers and even human skulls.” He also made them out of musical instruments, as New York magazine featured in 1977:

New York, 1977

In addition, Mr. Mattia was renowned for his seemingly infinite collection of sconces. The man was passionate for sconces.

New York, 1989

Mr. Mattia passed away in 2004. His Times obit says he was “Known from 1960 to 1995 for his antique light fixtures at his Second Ave. store.” Thirty-five years.

He left one piece of advice, also via the Times: “Never pull a plug out of a socket by the cord. ‘Always pull it out by the plug itself.’”