Juniors Owner Turns Down $45 Million

Photo credit: Kristen Luce/New York TimesThe original Junior’s Restaurant on Flatbush and Dekalb was saved at the eleventh hour when owner Alan Rosen rejected a $45 million offer for the building.  

Why did Rosen turn down that ridiculous amount of money? Because “this is Junior’s identity, is this building. This is the one where I came on my first dates,” he told the New York Times. Clearly, the cheesecake business must be good that he can turn down $45 million just because he got nostalgic at the last minute. Which it may be, seeing as how they already have locations at Times Square, Grand Central and Foxwoods Casino, perfectly situated to exploit the tourist industry. In fact, had he sold the building, Rosen had plans for a new Junior’s flagship elsewhere in Brooklyn.

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WHASSUP: Surprise Edition

This week is shrouded in surprise, excitement, and random shit that you may embrace or absolutely hate. I honestly don't know. I felt like stirring the pot and this is what rose to the top.

Can you handle it? Are you adventurous enough, or are you too scared to try new things that may just be the most fun youve had in your entire life?  Your choice.

So whassup?  This is WHASSUP: 

Thursday, 9/11, Secret Science Club: Computer Scientist Rob Fergus on Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision, The Bell House: Oooooh, scary. The computers are on the brink of taking over the world and steamrolling us with no remorse—or at least that’s my take on it. FREE, 7:30pm doors, 8pm show

Friday, 9/12, The Shitbirds, Freddy’s Bar: The mother-fucking Shitbirds, y’all! Need I say more? In full disclosure I’ve never heard of these dudes, but they had me at Shitbird…they just had me at Shitbird. FREE, 10pm

Saturday, 9/13, Ken Parker, Little Field: Jamaican reggae artist plays NYC for the first time. He retired for a while, but we’re glad he’s back and lighting up our hood with transcendent vocals and classic beats. $20-$25, 9pm

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Time To Get Rentin'

In Memoriam

Image via Locations Hub

Went to the Forced Meme interactive screening of When Harry Met Sally last night, which was all kinds of crazy fun (more on that to come at a later date). There are so many great New York moments in this film, but given the date, the moment where Harry and Sally drive toward the Washington Square Park Arch to signify their arrival in the big city took on more poignancy than usual given the date. So, I post the screen cap here as a tribute to all of those who lost their lives on 9/11. 

Manhattanites Annoyed by Brooklyn Friends

Okay, not exactly. But this video from comedy duo, New Potato, is pretty funny in describing how Manhattanites feel when their Brooklyn friends talk all Brooklyn insider-y and shit, like about artisanal mustard, and seasonal lunch places, and apparently we are all about the mason jars. 

I was definitely laughing along until they got to the part where one Brooklyn chick start telling the other Brooklyn chick how to get somewhere and she says, "You head down Flatbush and make a right on Nevins, then a right on Atlantic..." Yeah. Good luck getting there! And then at 3:08, Rosanna Scotto shows up on the park bench.

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