Good morning, Friday TGIF and stuff. It's beautiful in the city and y'all know I love St. Patrick's Day weekend. I can't help myself. I'm a woman of the people. ;)
So speaking of that, I have a bit of a rant. I'm going to caveat the crap out of said rant because I have not yet been to this place, but I'm pretty sure it's horrible.
And that place is Hudson Yards.
For those of you who don't know what Hudson Yards is, it's a development project in the nether reaches of Manhattan, way, way out on the West Side. It is literally one of the least convenient places to get to, and even though they have a train that goes right to it, to me it feels a bit behind the wall.
And that's because it is. It's a massive residential, office, and retail behemoth. That is like some sort of ridiculous fortress of bougie. I can't.
As I've been a New Yorker for most of my adult life, I'm one of those folks that hates the mallification of New York City. When I first moved here, there was a sense of entrepreneurial promise that was tough to beat. The city was full of places to shop small. From bespoke ballet flats to local mom and pop drug stores, there really was something so special about the power of small biz. When I moved to New York in the 90s, the thought of a Home Depot in the city was disgusting, let alone a mall. Now we have several- Time/Warner Center (when is the last time you went there?), Brookfield Place, The Oculus. I don't think malls are places most people want to go anymore. So I don't understand why we need another one. And a ridiculously fancy one at that. Like the generations who came after me, I appreciate brands and businesses that I can connect to. Maybe that's why I always loved the mom and pop. The personal touch is important to me. It doesn't make me a dinosaur. It just makes me crave something not so generic, even if it is wrapped in a beautiful setting. I do like that they also opened a cool performance space, The Shed. I got something in the mail about becoming a member but the marketing materials made zero sense to me as I had no sense for what it was. Typical.
Neiman Marcus has set up shop there for their first location in New York (admit I'm a little psyched to see that one). But do we really need another place to buy a Vuitton bag or a pair of Lululemon yoga pants? I don't. And the hoo ha around the launch of this place was epic. You might think it was the Olympics Opening Ceremony yesterday. But for rich people. With a lot of botox. Jesus. Aren't we better than this, New York? Leave the malls to Vegas and Miami, please. It's enough already. I know we're better than this. Also betting on retail? Not smart.
Perhaps a visit there will change my mind, but I doubt it. With restaurants and shops closing ad infinitum because of the high rents in this city, slapping some swish retail on the far end of the Island is ridiculous. If I want big box retail, I'll go to the suburbs. That's what malls are for. Nobody I know moved to New York City to go to the mall. Ugh.
Cause that's what's up this old school New York kind of Friday in the 212. Yours, in indie for life. XO