Blog
Northport Three Weeks Later: Surveying the Wreckage of Superstorm Sandy on Long Island
November 26, 2012 | Eric ShapiroFor some of us, Hurricane Sandy is already subsiding into a distant, traumatic memory. Our residences are intact, power has returned and our loved ones are safe and sound. For the inhabitants of ravaged areas such as Staten Island, the Jersey coastline, and the shores of Long Island, however, the “superstorm” is a continuing nightmare. Even as we return to our daily routines in the Flatiron District, Chelsea, and all around NYC, it is important for us to keep in mind communities that still haven’t recovered from Sandy’s onslaught.
NYC Gears up for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (Slideshow)
November 21, 2012 | Eric ShapiroWith Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade less than 24 hours away, New York City is starting to take on a festive air. The holiday season might not yet be in full swing, but stores and businesses are starting to gear up … Read More
Dos Equis Brings “Most Interesting Man in the World” to Flatiron
November 21, 2012 | Eric ShapiroThink you know everything the Flatiron District has to offer? Think again! On Thursday, November 15th, that irrepressible oddball Dos Equis celebrity who goes by the moniker of “Most Interesting Man in the World” took the neighborhood by storm – at 71 West 23rd Street, to be exact – by launching a full-blown promotional masquerade bash, fueled by 750 cases of Dos Equis’ finest brews and the endless energy of as many as eighteen hundred invited guests.
Flatiron Hot! Pundit: Israel, the Palestinians, and the Gaza Offensive
November 16, 2012 | Eric ShapiroIn the storm of media coverage that has cropped up in the wake of Israel’s targeted killing of Hamas military commander Ahmed al-Jabari on Wednesday, the focus has understandably been on the devastating human costs of the ensuing hostilities. Footage readily accessible on Youtube provides a window into a devastating tableau that recalls the early days of Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s 2008 offensive in Gaza.
Flatiron Hot! News & Bulletin Now on Facebook
November 14, 2012 | Eric ShapiroFirst and foremost, thanks so much for all your support and attention thus far! We couldn’t have made it this far without you. Now, help us build our social media presence by liking our new Facebook page. And if you haven’t already, follow us on Twitter (@FlatIronHot & @EricShapiro3). Read on to find out all our Facebook page has to offer, including special deals and discounts on local office space, dining and nightlife venues.
The Dilemma of The Brainy Sci-Fi Blockbuster (BSFB): Looper
November 14, 2012 | Eric ShapiroFlatiron Hot! Critic on those Sci-Fi BLockbusters …
Like many Brainy Sci-Fi Blockbusters (BSFBs), Looper begins with an emphasis on its intellectual side. The film’s basic premise is that in the distant future, crime syndicates have devised a new, foolproof way of making their enemies disappear: sending them back in time to be executed by agents known as Loopers. The moral implications of this concept bring up interesting thematic possibilities.
Superstorm Sandy Shut Down Your Business? Have no Fear, NYCSCC is Here!
November 13, 2012 | Eric ShapiroFor many, Hurricane Sandy was more than just an inconvenience. Survey the wreckage of seaside communities such as Long Beach, the Jersey Shore, and Fire Island for first-hand evidence of the havoc natural disaster can wreak. However, take a closer look and it becomes clear that residential areas were not the only places affected by the storm. In Manhattan, many businesses were put out of action, whether due to flooding, loss of electricity, or an overall sense of panic. In the midst of a recession, any loss of revenue is bound to sting entrepreneurs, non-profits and corporations alike.
Flatiron Hot! Pundit: The Real General Petraeus Sex Scandal
November 12, 2012 | Eric ShapiroLest anyone thought the re-election of Barack Obama – the multiracial president who endorsed gay marriage and mandated contraception coverage – signaled in any way a moderation of America’s puritanical impulse, feast your eyes on the latest Washington spectacle, this time starring General David H. Petraeus.
A Taste of Union Square Green Market via Interview (Video)
November 10, 2012 | Eric ShapiroIt takes more than a couple of storms (even one that goes by the name of “superstorm Sandy”) to keep the Flatiron District/Chelsea out of action. Case in point: Union Square Green Market has set up shop near Madison Square … Read More
The Dilemma of the Brainy Sci-Fi Blockbuster (BSFB) Part 1
November 8, 2012 | Eric ShapiroThe Flatiron Hot! Critic deconstructs the Sci-Fi Blockbusters – Part 1 …
One can select any number of summer blockbusters to support the cliched assertion that Hollywood has lost its magic. Loud, flashy, and utterly bereft of such cinematic staples as storytelling, characterization and directorial vision, the films in question are unashamedly tailored to deliver the biggest possible adrenaline rush to the widest swath of the testosterone-fueled young male demographic.