IS NEW YORK LOSING ITS FLAVOR?
22 11 2007
Just a few years ago the Meatpacking District was the place to be for “it” New Yorkers. And though the cobblestone neighborhood continues to be the heart of Manhattan Clubs I recently realized that the New York City of today is more different than ever. Of course every city, every neighborhood changes with each decade or generation. But there’s something odd about the new New Yorkers of the present and I am convinced that the city that never sleeps is gradually losing its flavor. And I am not just talking about the New Jersey and Long Island groupies that have taken over the city streets during the after hours. It’s something else…
Last month a friend and I were making our way into Tenjune for a red carpet, industry party. Like always there was a long line and you would think that aside the press and celebs, the publicist would let in stylish looking folks. Instead, the newbies going inside where anything but. Apparently money is making New York lose its flavor. Yea, it’s the “capital of the world”, but all the money-hungry changes have completely taken over the city. Do you think New York is losing its flavor? If so, what’s the cause of it?
I think it all started with the Guiliani era when he started clamping down on any and every facet of our lives. The after-effects lingered into the Bloomberg era. Both men allowed for the rent hikes to happen, so anyone with any common sense and no relatives here started moving out, and suburbia with its penchant for redundancy, started moving in. That’s why gentrification sucks: when all the name brands and corporations start moving in, the variety and flavor starts moving out. That’s why authentic Mexican food tastes better than Taco Bell, or why diners usually have better burgers than McDonalds.
It might also have to do with the economics. Notice the spike in making lounges, which means business owners can’t afford to make real clubs anymore. They let anyone in for free or close to, and they can still drink, socialize, and dance without much of the fanfare. Other club owners are losing out to these smaller companies, and why would anyone go to one of those when they can do the same things for 1/2 the cost?
It’s a lot of factors to get into, but I agree with your assessment of NYC. But it is the capital city, and we’re still one of the few places in the US that stay up ’till 4 (and in some places more),so we’ll be OK. Eventually, it’s people like you (yes you) that need to help revert that trend of going into a club with jeans on (for boys and girls). Make it happen, mama.