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the way we live now
An Epidemic of Smug Marrieds
Everybody has dysfunctional relationships—even those young marrieds who refer to themselves as "we." With that in mind, Gawker alum Doree Shafrir writes in the Observer this week about the power of the question-statement. Example: "Oh, I was just checking to see if you had a ring. But you guys aren't engaged?" Maybe that's for the best? More »
trendwatch
The Cute Epidemic
Kittens: they just won't go away. You must look at them! They and their assorted cute friends—puppies, monkeys, duckies, hippopotami—have taken over the internet, and have already become a leading addiction among men and women alike. Cute cravings must be fed, productivity be damned. A baby bear licking a swan! A parakeet wearing a tutu! A kitten roller skating on the back of a pink stingray! The Observer predicts a "cuteness surge." This will be our downfall. Our supposedly sophisticated elites have allowed their cutie wootie nom nom nuzzle muzzle urges to become their drug, their porn, their shame: More »
media barons
Jared Kushner: "Real estate is like porn for rich people."
Former Daily News gossip hack Lloyd Grove has a lengthy interview with New York Observer owner and golden-boy-about town Jared Kushner out today, in which the 27-year-old Kushner yacks and yacks about his real estate holdings, his media holdings, and how the Observer's revenues are way up this year (although it's doubtful the paper has made him money yet). He's guarded, and talks a lot like a PR person. But one thing comes through quite clearly, just by his use of examples: this is a rich, rich young man. And maybe done dating Ivanka Trump? He won't say. Still, the time to snag this wealthy media baron is now!: More »
shut up, brooklyn
Williamsburg Activity Guide Leaves Off 'Hating Everyone'
At least three staff members of the New York Observer live in Williamsburg, the Brooklyn neighborhood where every description was already a cliché like, ten years ago, dude. And they're determined to parlay their job at a somewhat relevant media outlet into some easy hipster sex this summer. So today they put together a long and infuriating package about living the post-college high life in "Williamsburg College." The two theses of the story are "Williamsburg does not blow!" and "it's not that different from college anyway." Only one of which is true. More »
exclusive
NY Observer Hopes People Still Read
The New York Observer, the fancypants pink paper read by the city's liberal elite, is about to roll out some changes. The two major ones: its cover price is going up to $2, and it's starting a full-on book review section, called the "Observer Review of Books," or "ORB." Recently laid off book reviewers of America, rejoice! This represents a big bet by the paper that its rarefied audience will be willing to pay more money for more literary coverage—and that the publishing industry, skittish as it is, will be willing to pour enough ad dollars into the Observer to make the new section viable. The NYO is no exception to every other print media outlet these days, in that it's trying to find a way to make its (vital) print product financially viable in the long term. Given all the papers across the country that have slashed their book review sections in the past year or two, it's not a bad niche to try to fill. This info courtesy of Observer President Bob Sommer. Contacted for reaction, former Gawker chief and current NYO gadfly Choire Sicha said—direct quote— "!!!."
shut up, brooklyn
Report: Williamsburg Not As Cool As It Was, Earth Revolves Around Sun
Heartbreaking news out of Brooklyn: Williamsburg has changed. It seems the HIP young hipster area is "no longer a neighborhood, but a destination for debauchery." And the L train to Bedford Avenue—it's no longer a seedy underground passage to hipsterdom. Now it's just a gateway to formerly desolate streets "packed with giggling outer-borough and outer-island 20- and 30-somethings on a night out." [NY Observer] Crap! When did this happen?!? More »
gossip
Ryan Adams/Jessica Joffe Breakup Video Long on Style, Short on Substance
The new Ryan Adams YouTube video, which we can only assume is about his recent breakup with former Observer scribe, former model, and current ShopVogue writer Jessica Joffe, is called "Sad Days." Described as "found footage of dreams," it features a couple grainy shots of Jessica in all her redheaded beauty, plus shots of Ryan goofing around. Oh, the good times they must have had! Mostly, though, it features shots of the skyline racing by from the window of a car, or shots of the stars at night. Your next breakup could easily end up like this if you aren't careful! "He's obviously reaching out," writes a tipster. "Bless him." Click to watch! If you're looking for Jess, she appears about 2 minutes in, and again at 3:20, and at the very end.More »
barry short list
Barry Diller Would Like To Influence You
IAC-owner and New Media Mogul Barry Diller went from the man who created the Fox network and greenlighted The Simpsons to the dude who owns Zwinky.com. He's still filthy rich and owns the biggest yacht ever and never needs to leave his gigantic office atop his Frank Gehry castle, but his former boss and current sorta-rival Rupert Murdoch just continues amassing power and influence and Presidents while Diller is creating and buying little funny (but sometimes hugely profitable!) websites. Does that bug him? According to a profile by the Observer's Doree Shafrir... maybe? More »
"There are few social situations more awkward than the failed dinner party. The novelist at the table blathers on about his latest opus, to the adoration of the editorial assistant seated at his left and the eye-rolling of everyone else; the beef tenderloin is tough; someone repeatedly leaves to "take a call." That's Doree Shafrir in today's Observer. See the thing about blogging is we're all just too awkward to even attempt a dinner party (they aren't on Facebook) or even sentences with two semicolons! [NYO]
jared kushner
Bear Shits in Woods, Rich Kid's Dad Buys His Way Into College
New Observer owner and veteran 25-year-old Jared Kushner is a Harvard graduate (and in our hearts, aren't we all?) but, according to his counselor at Frisch Yeshiva, the lad was more likely rolling joints by the train tracks than he was leading the Quizbowl team: More »
tom scocca
'Observer's' Tom Scocca Sells Book, Will Get Laid Soon
Congrats to Observer editor Tom Scocca, who has sold a book to Sean MacDonald at Riverhead (MacDonald was James Frey's editor, so don't be surprised when everyone discovers that several portions of Scocca's book have been fabricated). We're not sure how significant the deal is because, as a very white person, Scocca doesn't talk about those things. But we do know that Scocca sold more rights for more cash, so he's got a decent handful. Enough to at buy at least 10 sessions at Solar Salon. More »
softball
Media Softball: Satire Always Wins
Last Thursday, the staffs from the Observer and New York magazine took to the softball field; it would be no small exaggeration to say the prettily pink players from the Observer had their witty asses handed to them on the proverbial plate (we imagine that if New York were to actually use a plate for this purpose, it'd be an elegant piece of dinnerware from Kate Spade's Gramercy Park line as recommended by Strategist). The score was 15-10 and, as the Observer write-up indicates, the crushing loss stemmed from a shitty first inning that had the NYO down 9-0: More »
jared kushner
Kushner Kid Knows His New Demographic
This morning's revelation The Kushner Kids all have a piece of the pink paper lead us to wonder about the other members of what's turning out to be the Wayans family of New York media. Do they have any proficiency with the press? Will they change the tone of the periodical? More »
observer
If we may, let's go back to new Observer owner Jared Kushner. In the Sun's article today about Kushner's real estate ventures uptown, there's an interesting little something slipped in there: "Mr. Kushner said his partners in the real estate venture include his siblings, Dara, 27, Nicole, 23, and Joshua, 21, all of whom have minority interests in the Observer."
More »
'Observer' Sold to Jersey Jewfia Family
If we may, let's go back to new Observer owner Jared Kushner. In the Sun's article today about Kushner's real estate ventures uptown, there's an interesting little something slipped in there: "Mr. Kushner said his partners in the real estate venture include his siblings, Dara, 27, Nicole, 23, and Joshua, 21, all of whom have minority interests in the Observer."
More »
real estate
Jared Kushner, the 25-year-old real estate scion who just purchased the Observer for $10 million, isn't putting his property lust aside for the sake of the sassy salmon paper; the Sun reports today that Kushner and his siblings are planning on purchasing 22 residential buildings north of 96th Street. Kushner wouldn't reveal specifics, but looking at his business dealings in Somerville, Massachusetts, we're guessing that the buildings are "very neglected" and ripe for Kushner's renovations. Not that we have any idea, but if any of the buildings are residential and not rentals, one might safely assume that Kushner will put his money into flipping the properties and selling some nice new Harlem condos. Should that be the case, a 25-year-old kid ruthlessly pushing out the locals could be the perfect Observer story.
More »
And Discounted Copies of the 'Observer' Will Be in Every Lobby
Jared Kushner, the 25-year-old real estate scion who just purchased the Observer for $10 million, isn't putting his property lust aside for the sake of the sassy salmon paper; the Sun reports today that Kushner and his siblings are planning on purchasing 22 residential buildings north of 96th Street. Kushner wouldn't reveal specifics, but looking at his business dealings in Somerville, Massachusetts, we're guessing that the buildings are "very neglected" and ripe for Kushner's renovations. Not that we have any idea, but if any of the buildings are residential and not rentals, one might safely assume that Kushner will put his money into flipping the properties and selling some nice new Harlem condos. Should that be the case, a 25-year-old kid ruthlessly pushing out the locals could be the perfect Observer story.
More »
metro
Remainders: Too Hot to Fuck
• The people have spoken. [Animal]• Are Madonna and Guy Ritchie headed towards a divorce? And is floating such rumors part of new Observer owner Jared Kushner's hip-and-cool mandate? [Daily Transom]
• Speaking of J-Kush, homeboy was definitely not a team player last night when he missed the Observer's very first softball game, which they won over the alpha-males at Trader Monthly. Too bad three interns died from dehydration before the fifth inning. [Daily Transom]
• Today's Post, summed up in a single sentence: "Mel, Mel, Mel, do you mind if we call you sugar lips, Mel?" [NYP]
• We suspect former Sun columnist Pranay Gupte lives for little more than a soapbox; here's why he got fired from that other job. At least it doesn't involve signing your co-workers up for a dating service. [Pranay Gupte]
• And back to Madonna again, whose next reinvention will be in the form of Angelina Jolie. [Time]
• OMG CRISIS HEAT CLOSES TRADER JOE'S NO THAI LIME & CHILI PEANUTS FUUUUUCK! [Curbed]
• Mel Gibson provides the perfect opportunity to get wasted on company time as a part of an "investigation." A round of tequila shots in the name of journalism, please! [TVNewser]
• Just another tea party bay-by, two doped-out preppies going cray-zy. [You Tube]
jared kushner
