Crain's New York Business articles from February 2007

Crain's New York Business archives from February 2007

Hoop NIGHTMARES.(New York Knicks loses audiences)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... It's an axiom: Everybody loves a winner. Take the New York Knicks. The team sold out Madison Square Garden-19,763 seats-for the 433 home games between Feb. 4, 1993, and Nov. 2, 2002. The Knicks had a winning percentage of 58% during the period....

Hospitals brace for Spitzer; Governor's ambitious plans to cut spending have health care/ union lobby on ropes.(News)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Gale Scott New york's unlikely political alliance of hospitals and labor unions, one of the most potent lobbies in Albany, has been winning battles over health care funding for years. But the war that Gov. Eliot Spitzer declared...

Cupid talks shop; A guys' guide to Valentine's Day gifts.(Business Lives)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Consider this a wake-up call. Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and any man who doesn't want to sleep on the couch that night might want to put down the remote control and start shopping. Yes, Valentine's...

Rebuffed bid leaves Nasdaq isolated; Founders as NYSE strengthens global position; solid gains in its home market.(News)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Aaron Elstein Ten months ago, the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. risked its long-term future on a hostile bid for the London Stock Exchange. With the bid officially expiring Saturday, the gamble appears doomed. The failure will leave...

What should Citigroup do about its CEO, who has been under pressure to shore up the firm's stock price? CRAIN'S ONLINE POLL.(Viewpoint)
February 5, 2007... A bare majority of the 157 poll respondents support embattled Citigroup Chief Executive Charles Prince, arguing that he is making strides toward improving the company's share price. Only 29% believe that the company would be better off if it...

Dems' pique vs. able candidates.(Viewpoint)(Democrats and the pick for New York State comptroller)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... New York needs a new comptroller. It's a crucial job, because the person holding the post has sole authority over the state's $146 billion pension fund and must keep state and local governments financially honest. A panel of former comptrollers...

The Insider.(comptrollers' appointment)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Erik Engquist and Anne Michaud Cautious plans for pension fund The three nominees for state comptroller say they would move cautiously on taking advantage of a new law allowing New York's pension fund to put 25% of its assets...

Spitzer needs public's help.(Viewpoint)(New York State governor Eliot Spitzer)
February 5, 2007... It took Richard Nixon, a Republican with impeccable anti-Communist credentials, for the United States to normalize relations with what was then called Red China. In another kind of political twist three decades later, a crusading liberal may be...

Meetings wouldn't be the same without them.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Each year, thousands of meetings and conventions are held in New York City. Most come off without a hitch, running smoothly from hotel check-in through the many speeches and presentations and the evenings filled with specially conceived...

Cooking for a cast of thousands; Marriott exec chef strives to serve more than rubber chicken.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)(Marriott Marquis Hotel, Achilles Poliviou)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Andrew Marks It's an hour before the day's banquet--a lunch for 200--at the New York Marriott Marquis. The "plating'' of the entree, composed of cold chicken, asparagus and new potatoes, is about to begin. Executive Banquet...

Witty repartee wins over visitors on moving stage; Gray Line bus entertainer needs to stay a step ahead of savvier customers.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)(Fabrice Leclercq, Gray Line New York Tours Inc.)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Steve Garmhausen Bus tour guide Fabrice Leclercq considers himself a New York City performer--and a successful one--but he admits to having an ace up his sleeve. "My stage moves,'' he says. Part historian, part comedian...

For hands-on GM, Hilton is a city within the city; Head of 2,100-room hotel gets involved in every little thing.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)(Conrad Wangeman, Hilton New York)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Steve Garmhausen With an army of 1,500 employees under his direction, you wouldn't think the general manager of the swank Hilton New York would get his hands dirty with grunt work. But Conrad Wangeman is a hands-on leader....

Knock-your-socks-off events are a requirement; Planner oversees small dinners, big events; hold the rain.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)(Jaclyn Bernstein, Empire Force Events)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Gina Scheckman `'I should have known this was a crazy business when my first employer interviewed me on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend,'' says Jaclyn Bernstein, president and partner of Empire Force Events in Manhattan. ...

How art of deal-making helps land the big shows; New agency's head lures major events; expanded Javits key.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)(Tim McGuinness, NYC & Company)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Andrew Marks Trying to catch up with Tim McGuinness is about as difficult as finding a hotel for 300 conventioneers on short notice. Mr. McGuinness is one of the people directly responsible for realizing Mayor Michael...

Lights, camera, PowerPoint; Tech crews work long hours as events go Vegas-style.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Margaret Jaworski It's nearly 9 o'clock on a Tuesday night in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria. The 11-person crew from production company Paratore AV is three hours into the job of rigging the room for the next day's...

Is my partner cheating on me?(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... there's no surefire way to catch a cheater, but your partner's body language can be telling. Changes in tone of voice or flushed cheeks can be a sign he or she is trying to hide something. Things like crossed arms or hands in pockets while...

Adman tells how he will sell NYC; NYC & Company head will push city internationally; off-peak program.(George Fertitta)(Interview)
February 5, 2007... Last june, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that advertising veteran George Fertitta would head up the city's newly revamped tourism and marketing efforts. His mission: to consolidate the efforts of NYC & Company, NYC Big Events and NYC...

WANTED: chief financial officer.
February 5, 2007... Byline: kira bindrim COMPANY The Princeton Review JOB DESCRIPTION Overseeing financial and accounting processes MOST IMPORTANT TASK Managing the systems and budgets of the company's various media properties CREDENTIALS NEEDED...

Builder makes family a selling point; Principals oversee projects; sweat equity required for ownership.
February 5, 2007... Byline: Victoria Rivkin When Carl Palazzolo went looking for someone to renovate D.F. King & Co.'s offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn three years ago, he knew exactly what he needed in a contractor. "I wanted to be important enough to...

More tech firms get share of major venture funding; $2 billion given to 249 companies; online advertising fuels recovery.(News)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Amanda Fung Venture capital investors are opening their wallets to increasing numbers of New York area technology entrepreneurs. Last year, venture firms put close to $2 billion into 249 companies, according to a survey by...

At Deadline.(Broadway Properties, Chetrit Group, Columbia University)
February 5, 2007... Broadway Properties acquired 450 W. 33rd St. for more than $700 million from the Chetrit Group, which had bought the property in 2003 for $315 million. The building, between Ninth and 10th avenues, is home to several media companies including...

Why Mike can wait until dust settles; He can get on ballot as independent as late as spring '08.(Looking Toward 2008)(Michael Bloomberg)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Anne Michaud Every day, it seems that a new presidential candidate is jumping into the race and jetting off to Iowa, the site of the first 2008 vote. But the buzz around whether Mayor Michael Bloomberg will run as an independent...

Make me a match.(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli Janis Spindel, 50, is a matchmaker who says her fee starts at $25,000. Though she offers no guarantee of a wedding, she claims responsibility for 760 marriages, all of which she assumes are still intact. "If...

Heart in the dugout; SportsNet New York's studio analyst wants to do well, then get back into a uniform.(Lee Mazzilli)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Aaron Elstein Getting a gig as an announcer on a hot cable sports network would seem like a dream to many former athletes, but not to Lee Mazzilli. The one-time Mets All-Star outfielder was recently tapped to serve as lead...

Runaway Coach crushes army of skeptics as profits and shares continue their roll.(In the Markets)(Financial report)
February 5, 2007... Stylish handbags and expensive leather belts were only supposed to carry Coach so far. Since the company was spun off from Sara Lee in 2000 at an adjusted $2.45 per share, the stock has been on a tear--rising 7% last week and 61% in the last...

Bank of NY reaps fruits of merger with Mellon; Combination will create a powerhouse, but shares are still a steal.(Bank of New York)(Mellon Financial Corp.)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Tom Fredrickson For four long years, Bank of New York was mired in a series of problems, including bad loans, rising costs and weakening margins. Even the news last April that the company would swap its sadly neglected 338-branch...

BIG HIRE Firm nabs Spitzer aide.(Global Strategy Group hires Ryan Toohey)(Eliot Spitzer)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Ryan Toohey (right), manager of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's winning campaign and a member of his inner circle, is joining Global Strategy Group this week as a principal. The Manhattan-based consulting firm served as Mr. Spitzer's top outside...

Loft fashion stumbles put Ann Taylor in bind; Company seeks leader to shore up its affordable line.(NewsAnnTaylor Stores Corp.)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Kay krill is finding out just how big her shoes really are. Ann Taylor Stores Corp.'s chief executive, who made her mark in the industry by launching the company's hugely popular Loft chain, is once again looking...

Financial company lowers its site; Cramer Rosenthal strikes a better deal; T.J. Maxx considering former Tower space.(Real Estate)
February 5, 2007... A financial services firm with expensive space near the top of a Madison Avenue office tower has gotten a better deal by moving down 12 floors. Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn is leaving its digs on the 32nd floor of 520 Madison Ave., between East...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
February 5, 2007... * Antoinette Bruno is chief executive and editor in chief of Starchefs.com. Her title was misstated in the Dec. 18 story "Zagat eats up the competition.'' * Roberto Muller, rather than his former employer, Reebok International, became a...

Hillary leads Dems, Republicans in poll; New York voters would choose senator over Obama, Giuliani.(Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Erik Engquist Sen. hillary rodham clinton is poised to trump all comers in New York's presidential primary and general elections in 2008, according to a Crain's New York Business poll. The survey of 600 registered voters across...

New York, New York.(ABC Carpet Company Inc. to start health spa)(News Corp. fires thirteen people)(Renaissance New York Hotel starts makeover)
February 5, 2007... Byline: edited by Cynthia Rigg Inner light at ABC Carpet It's been a long time since ABC Carpet & Home was just a place to buy a rug, but who would have thought the Union Square retailer would turn into a meditation center? ...

THE SHOW'S THE THING.(The New York International Auto Show)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Impact The New York International Auto Show contributed an estimated $181 million to the economy. Venue 23 of the top 25 events were held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Future A planned Javits expansion would increase...

Exotic fun in the House; Mai House livens up TriBeCa with modern Vietnamese food, wicked noise levels.(Business Lives)(Restaurant review)
February 5, 2007... The latest starburst of Drew Nieporent on TriBeCa's hospitality landscape is Mai House, showcasing the multitalented chef-cum-architect Michael Bao Huynh. Son of a Saigon architect/restaurateur father and a cookbook author mother, Michael...

Sending Web 2.0 to NY's rescue.(Viewpoint)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Greg David Mayor michael bloomberg is worried that excessive regulation of publicly held companies under the Sarbanes-Oxley law will hurt New York's financial services industry. Kevin Ryan has no worries about New York's...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)
February 5, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli this week's events february 6 U.S. Department of Commerce and Baker & McKenzie hold seminar on free trade agreements. 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 1114 Sixth Ave., fourth-floor conference center. Fee: $75....

Executive Moves.(AlixPartners, Marcum & Kliegman and FeedRoom)
February 5, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli Accounting & consulting AlixPartners: Holly Felder Etlin, 49, joined as managing director. She had been chief restructuring officer and acting chief executive at Tanner & Haley. Marcum & Kliegman:...

Can Cocktail connect with 20-somethings? Bauer has high hopes, but women raised on the Web aren't easy to lure.(Bauer Publishing to introduce "Cocktail Weekly" Women's magazine)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Nat Ives The magazine business has watched newsstand sales slide for years. Women already have all sorts of magazines trying to serve them. So why does Bauer Publishing think adding another weekly title to the rack is a good idea?...

Firms wrestle for roles at Beijing 2008 Olympics; See huge opportunity in growing economy; lack of deep pockets, China savvy may hurt.(News)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Samantha Marshall At a sports marketing summit at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center last June, one speaker stole the show. Yuan Bin, the top licensing and marketing decision-maker for the 2008 Olympic Games, told more than 400...

Retail renaissance on Bed-Stuy strip; Spate of new shops, eateries on Lewis Ave.; Throgs Neck gets Home Depot.(Neighborhood Journal)
February 5, 2007... A spate of store openings is giving a surprising new look to Lewis Avenue, one of the main shopping streets in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Lewis Gallery, an art and framing shop, launched in June after moving from downtown Brooklyn. French-African...

WEEK IN REVIEW: Harry Potter fever.
February 5, 2007... Byline: from staff reports and bloomberg news reports The seventh and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will go on sale July 21. The book will likely mean big bucks for its American publisher, Scholastic Inc....

Blockbuster art week; Concurrent shows seek to outdo other cities' events, boost February tourism.(News)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Miriam Kreinin Souccar Art collectors from around the world will be prowling the city in two weeks, checkbooks at the ready, as the largest amount of blue-chip modern and contemporary work ever assembled goes up for sale. From...

Sites vie for finance firms; 3 big landlords with prime sites go after Merrill, Lehman, J.P. Morgan HQs.(News)
February 5, 2007... Byline: Julie Satow Three landlords with prime office development sites are locked in a fierce battle to attract some of the city's largest financial services firms, which are in the market for new headquarters. Merrill Lynch & Co.,...

THE SHOW'S THE THING.(Special Report: Meetings & Conventions)(New York International Automobile Show)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... ***** Correction: The WIRED NextFest held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 attracted 50,242 attendees. The number was incorrect in a Feb. 5 list of the largest meetings and conventions in the city. ***** Impact The New York International...

Candy with a conscience.(Small Business Report)(Sweetriot)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Sarah endline thinks she can do for chocolate what Ben & Jerry's did for ice cream: turn a guilty pleasure into a product consumers can be proud of. "The market for socially responsible products was expanding, but no one was doing candy,''...

NYC's tropical zone sizzles; Skimpily clad staff and good food make for entertaining lunch or dinner; costly wines.(Hawaiian Tropic Zone)(Restaurant review)
February 12, 2007... With only a four-month track record at Times Square, Hawaiian Tropic Zone is being cloned. A groundbreaking for the second spot is scheduled in Las Vegas this month. It didn't take long for the heady combination of pulchritude on parade...

UPHILL CLIMB Voters oppose cuts.(Briefs)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Gov. Eliot Spitzer is touring the state to build support for the centerpiece of his budget plan--$1.2 billion in health care cuts in order to finance a boost in education spending. A Crain's New York Business poll suggests he has a lot of...

Hot Jobs.(Citigroup Inc. looking for successor to Charles Prince, also promotes Sallie Krawcheck)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Byline: kira bindrim WANTED: chief financial officer COMPANY Citigroup Inc. JOB DESCRIPTION Overseeing reporting, treasury and tax activities, investor relations, and mergers and acquisitions MOST IMPORTANT TASK Aligning...

Overheated market threatens landlords; Drive to buy means hasty due diligence, topsy-turvy returns.(News)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Julie Satow Real estate dealmaker Scott Latham knows what it takes to buy a skyscraper these days: Be quick on the draw, have a lot of cash and don't sweat the small stuff. "The people making deals in this market aren't dotting...

Contractor gets into development; Class of 1999.(Small Business Report)(A. Williams Trucking and Trenching Inc.)(Company overview)
February 12, 2007... Byline: steve garmhausen In the nearly eight years since construction contractor A. Williams Trucking was tapped by Crain's for a small business award, revenues have barely budged and staffing levels have nudged up only slightly. Those...

GIVING UP CONTROL.(children's freedom)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Get ready. "Fourth grade is when kids start pushing to do things on their own,'' says Lisa Spiegel, director of Soho Parenting. "Let them take independent steps, like going into a store when you're nearby.'' Get set. With middle school,...

On-again, off-again rally in shares of home builders shakes Hovnanian's foundations.(Hovnanian Enterprises Inc.'s shares slump)(C.R. Bard Inc.'s fourth quarter earnings drop)(Vornado Realty Trust shares rally)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Two weeks ago, homebuilder Hovnanian rallied after a leading analyst called its shares a "buy.'' Last week, investors had second thoughts, driving the stock down 5% in the first hour of trading on Thursday on news of sharply lower orders and...

7 tips for finding the right franchise; Interest in the field, plenty of working capital are musts.(Small Business Report)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Tina Traster Richard schragger loves franchises. In less than three years, the 33-year-old has acquired three Subway restaurants in Manhattan. Now he's eyeing a Papa John's. "The best thing about franchises is that the business...

Patented process key to survival; Class of 1997.(Small Business Report)(Schick Technologies Inc.)(Company overview)
February 12, 2007... Byline: tina traster Last year, operating profits at Schick Technologies came to a tidy $25 million. That was considerably more than the company's total revenues--not to mention profits--in 1997, when it was recognized by Crain's. The...

Designer keeps clothier in fashion; Class of 1998.(Small Business Report)(Lafayette 148)(Company overview)
February 12, 2007... Byline: steve garmhausen On paper, there was no way that Lafayette 148 could really afford to hire a high-caliber designer like Edward Wilkerson. But eight years ago, when Mr. Wilkerson became available, the company decided to swing for...

At Deadline.(Technology salaries rise, survey by Dice Inc.)(New York state seeks new advertising agency)(Fortress Investment Group's shares double on the first day of trading)
February 12, 2007... Technology salaries in the New York metropolitan area rose 4.7% last year to an average of $80,006 as the sector continues to rebound, according to a survey by Dice Inc., which runs a tech jobs Web site. The salary hikes trailed increases of...

Profits take center stage; Class of 2000.(Small Business Report)(City Theatrical Inc.)(Company overview)
February 12, 2007... Byline: steve garmhausen Gary fails learned the hard way that great products alone can't ensure a company's success. In 1992, his Bronx-based lighting design firm, City Theatrical Inc., got off to a terrific start. By 2000, annual...

Drink maker floods market; Class of 2001.(Small Business Report)(Glaceau)(Company overview)
February 12, 2007... Byline: tina traster Glaceau--the company that pioneered the entire category of enhanced-water drinks with its Vitaminwater--is by all measures a huge success. In just 11 years, founder J. Darius Bikoff has taken his company from startup...

Punk distributor feels no stress; Class of 2002.(Small Business Report)(Tish and Snooky's Manic Panic)
February 12, 2007... Byline: steve garmhausen Like any other entrepreneurs, Tish and Snooky Bellomo want their company--a punk- and Goth-fashion distributor known as Manic Panic--to grow. Unlike most, however, they're in no particular hurry. That's...

Software firm makes the grade; Class of 2004.(Small Business Report)(Wireless Generation)
February 12, 2007... Byline: steve garmhausen At the tender age of six, Wireless Generation has already graduated from elementary school. Late last summer, the education software developer, whose programs are already used by more than 100,000...

Real estate broker takes turf; Class of 2003.(Small Business Report)(Massey Knakal Realty Services Inc.)
February 12, 2007... Byline: tina traster Paul massey and Robert Knakal, like the ancient Romans, believe that the key to power is turf. The more of it an army holds, the greater its might. By the time Massey Knakal Realty services was recognized by...

Foreclosure filings soar in boroughs; Loose mortgage-lending practices come back to haunt homeowners.(News)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Tom Fredrickson A rapid rise in foreclosure rates could cost thousands of mostly low- and middle-income New Yorkers their homes. The number of homes in foreclosure rose 18% in the last six months of 2006 compared with the same...

Corrections.
February 12, 2007... The Pfizer pharmaceutical plant recently slated to close is on Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn, on the Williamsburg/Bedford-Stuyvesant border. Its location was misstated in the Jan. 29 "Neighborhood Journal.'' Mai House is located at 186...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
February 12, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli this week's events february 13 New York Software Industry Association holds program on the United States and Hong Kong. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., 55 Broad St., 10th floor. Fee: free for members, $20...

Executive Moves.(Business Lives)
February 12, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli accounting & consulting Lazar Levine & Felix: John K. Concannon, 47, joined as partner. He had been a senior manager at Rothstein Kass. Schonbraun McCann Group: Joseph V. Falanga, 55, joined as partner....

Have roof deck, throw parties for the A-list; Web millionaire creates his version of country life in fab downtown penthouse.(Business Lives)(Ari Ackerman, Bunk1.com)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Margaret Jaworski On one of the coldest days of the year, Ari Ackerman can't resist strolling onto his 1,400-square-foot L-shaped deck. The weather is gloomy, but the homeowner beams. "I love it out here,'' Mr. Ackerman says....

The Insider.(Eliot Spitzer gains more power with the winning of Craig Johnson)(Nick Sprayregen plans mixed-use development at site being eyed by Columbia University)(Vito Lopez leading candidate for Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee chairmanship)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Erik Engquist and Anne Michaud Spitzer gains most from L.I. Senate Gov. eliot spitzer is the big winner after last week's state Senate race on Long Island in which Democrat Craig Johnson (below) defeated Republican Maureen...

TV pilots hit record number; Production work fills studio stages; state and city tax credits a big draw.(News)
February 12, 2007... Byline: MIRIAM KREININ SOUCCAR Next month, Glenn Close will star in her first television pilot. She plays a famous litigator who works on high-profile cases in New York, in a still untitled legal drama for FX. The episode, to be filmed...

Ex-Streeter's bounce; George Ball's back, unscathed by former firms' scandals.(News)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Aaron Elstein George ball, who ran Prudential-Bache Securities in the 1980s--when the brokerage firm perpetrated the biggest swindle in Wall Street history--is back. "I would have regretted it had Prudential marked the end of...

Thriving local papers draw; News Corp., others buy up community chains; will they lose local flavor?(News Corp. trying to acquire Bronx Times Reporter)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Matthew Flamm There is one corner of the newspaper industry where circulation is rising, ad revenue is growing, and the Internet bears no relation to the grim reaper: weekly community newspapers. "My display advertising grows...

A dressed-case scenario on the Web; Hits & Misses: Fledgling firms' key moves.(Small Business Report)(eDressMe.com)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Lisa Goff Joanne stoner started her fashion career as a buyer for Saks and went on to launch the Elisabeth dress division for Liz Claiborne. Today, she says, the most intriguing merchandising opportunities are on the Internet--and...

Dining while drunk; Liability, license concerns spur more eateries to pull plug on the intoxicated.(News)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Lisa Fickenscher When a group of 15 women guzzling margaritas at Rosa Mexicano got a little too boisterous one evening recently, co-owner Howard Greenstone took a step he might not have taken a few years ago: He cut them off,...

Hitting the streets; No set rules for kids traveling alone; mistakes happen.(Business Lives)
February 12, 2007... Byline: MATTHEW FLAMM New yorkers may pride themselves on how savvy and street-smart they are in the worlds of business and commerce. But when it comes to letting their children walk out the door unsupervised, they can be among the most...

W. Side calls to communications firm; Royal Impressions takes floor on W. 34th; online retailer sets up shop in East Village.
February 12, 2007... A digital marketing, communications and printing company is relocating to a larger office space west of Penn Plaza. After a long search in which it considered many buildings, Royal Impressions has settled on a 15-year lease for the entire...

Chow down, chew the fat.(Mardi Gras)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Byline: elisabeth butler For new yorkers who know what it means to miss New Orleans during Mardi Gras, here's a list of venues celebrating Fat Tuesday next week. Laissez les bon temps rouler! Acme Bar & Grill is making room for a...

A long journey to moment of pride.(a women, an African-American and a Hispanic-american among the presidential candidates)(Viewpoint essay)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Alair Townsend I feel jubilant. I have won the trifecta--or rather, the country has. For the first time in our history, we have a woman, an African-American and a Hispanic candidate for president. What is even more significant...

The next Albany confrontation.(Viewpoint)
February 12, 2007... Last week brought two stunning developments in New York politics. The Democratic Party won a resounding victory in a special election for a Long Island state Senate seat, and the Legislature made a brazen decision to choose an unqualified...

STORIES CAN BE REPRINTED, POSTED ONLINE; crain's articles.(Crain's New York Business offering reprints of published articles)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Crain's offers reprints of published articles. Contact Lori Noffz at Reprint Management Services, (717) 399-1900, ext. 104, or lnoffz@reprintbuyer.com. Readers wishing to make reprints or post a story online must pay $350 to use Crain's...

Starwood's upside at maximum capacity; Expensive p/e ratio makes rivals' shares a better buy for now.(In The Markets)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Aaron Elstein The soaring average price of a New York hotel room--more than $300 a night--has left travelers breathless. But such hefty rates are money in the bank for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., owner of such...

Port Authority will struggle to get Stewart Airport to fly; Aging facility needs updates, expansions; top priority will be improving access.(Port Authority of New York & New Jersey buys lease of Stewart International Airport)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Hilary Potkewitz As of last month, Stewart International Airport has been officially touted as a sort of Newark Airport North--a fourth site to alleviate pressure on New York's other, badly overcrowded facilities. The Port...

J-school going digital; As print demand shrinks, programs stress Web work.(Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Samantha Marshall When faculty members of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism got together for their annual retreat last month, one topic dominated their conversation: the Web. "This year in particular it's...

A card-carrying leader; 1199 SEIU vet brings quiet strength to health care union's top job; ready to fight Spitzer.(George Gresham, 1199 Service Employees International Union)
February 12, 2007... Byline: Samantha Marshall For a union boss, George Gresham isn't exactly your typical firebrand. If anything, the anointed successor to political lightning rod Dennis Rivera is downright bashful. "I am a very shy person,'' says Mr....

STUDENTS SEEK HOST BUSINESSES; exploring careers.(News)
February 12, 2007... The greater new york Councils Exploring program is seeking businesses to host educational sessions offering high school students the opportunity to explore various industries and make better decisions about possible career choices. The...

Mets make pitch to Asian community; Reaching out to fans in nearby Flushing; Brooklyn mall faces future as high-rise.(Neighborhood Journal)(New York Mets)(Albee Square Mall)
February 12, 2007... Last month, the Yankees hit a home run with the Asian community when the team announced that it would dispatch a delegation of coaches and managers to Beijing to spread the gospel of baseball to China. But the Bronx Bombers are way behind...