Crain's New York Business articles from January 2007

Crain's New York Business archives from January 2007

A snapshot: key city stats.(Report: Economic Outlook)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Data on unemployment and jobs, real estate construction and sales, taxes, city spending and inflation show the health of the overall economy. Charts: Unemployment hits a low: Average annual unemployment rate in New York City Jobs...

At Deadline.
January 1, 2007... Broadway is expected to report record-breaking grosses--even surpassing 2005's $825 million--when it releases its year-end numbers this week. From the beginning of the theater season in June through Dec. 24, grosses jumped nearly 10%, to $520.6...

Targets dig in; Hospitals ordered to close turn to courts.(News)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Gale Scott legal challenges are mounting to the Berger commission's recommendations on hospital closings, which becomes law today. The panel called for the closing of nine facilities, including Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills,...

NYC sidestepping U.S. housing downturn; Lack of speculation, many buyers limit price declines; oversupply worries.(Report: Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Judith Messina stephanie block has been looking to buy a two-bedroom condo in Manhattan since last year, when new owners decided to turn the building she has lived in for 28 years into a luxury rental. The search has been...

Fields of Dreams.(planning a basketball arena)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Tthe planned 18,000-seat basketball arena for the Nets has garnered front-page headlines because it is part of a controversial multi-use development in Brooklyn. But in fact the metro area is experiencing a boom in stadium construction. Seven...

The Weeks Ahead.
January 1, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli this week's events january 2 South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. holds business seminar. 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., 555 Bergen Ave., third floor, Bronx. Free. (718) 293-7780 or...

Titan of transit ads; Outdoor veteran takes contract from CBS; nationwide growth strategy.(News)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Amanda Fung last month, challenger Titan Worldwide beat incumbent CBS Outdoor for the lucrative 10-year, $823 million contract to sell advertising space throughout the city's bus and commuter train systems. But the force behind...

Diversified Wall St. firms double profits from 2002; Goldman posts its best year ever; some worry about debt instruments.(The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Aaron Elstein goldman sachs Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein summed up Wall Street's euphoric mood nicely at a recent conference. "Gee, I feel terrific,'' Mr. Blankfein said. "I feel really good. In fact, I haven't felt this...

Stock market rally lifts NY companies; Local index up 24% as interest rates level off; some losers.(News)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Aaron Elstein The stock market turned in a memorable year in 2006, helping make the experience of reviewing a 401(k) account the most pleasant in memory. New York companies led the parade. The Bloomberg/Crain's New York index of...

New York, New York.(Zen palate's planning for expansion)(forecasting growth for restaurant industry)
January 1, 2007... Byline: edited by Valerie Block Moments of Zen multiplying in the city Zen palate, New York's pioneering vegetarian temple, is cooking up major expansion plans, with two new restaurant concepts set to debut here and in Los Angeles this...

Independent workers come of age; Freelancers fulfill a role that's vital to many sectors, but full of risks.(Report: Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Judith Messina glenn daily was beginning to feel that he'd had enough of working at big companies, including a four-year stint at General Electric. So in 1990, when the outfit he was working for merged with an accounting firm and...

For charities, the Street is paved with gold.(Report: Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Alair Townsend Etiquette news flash: If your blue-chip charity's gala has raised less than $1 million, don't announce it at the dinner. The honoree might be embarrassed. It's astonishing. The event business is going...

COFFEE BATTLE BREWS IN CITY; Dunkin' Donuts aims to tap Starbucks' upscale customers by opening shops near offices.(News)
January 1, 2007... Byline: ELISABETH BUTLER dunkin' donuts, a fast-food chain that has long appealed to construction workers and taxi drivers, is trying to put more of its signature pink and white coffee cups into the manicured hands of office workers. ...

Mass market transforms the retail landscape; Discounters invade New York, altering buyer expectations, shopping habits.(Report: Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Elizabeth Macbride kohl's has won over George Caputo of Staten Island. Though he was skeptical when the store opened about two years ago on the North Shore, the retired police officer just can't resist the prices. Six dollars...

Web 2.0 revives New York's tech industry; Second dot-com wave promises more sustained growth; big companies dominate.(Report: Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Elizabeth Macbride the second wave of the Web is arriving in New York, creating hundreds of small businesses, thousands of jobs and the promise of a more sustained economic benefit than the last Internet boom. Businesses from...

IPOS: THINGS OF THE PAST.(Initial public offerings)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... It's unlikely that many new firms will emulate Internet 1.0 companies by holding an initial public offering. Tougher regulations and investors' reluctance make that path more difficult. Rather, companies are growing slowly or being acquired....

Strong growth in 2007 as city outpaces nation; New York will add nearly as many jobs as in 2006; U.S. recession a wild card.(Report: Economic Outlook)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Tom Fredrickson in 2007, New York's economy will repeat the same remarkable feat it accomplished in 2006: growing faster than the national economy. Crain's estimates that the city will add 54,000 jobs this year, nearly matching...

Week in Review.
January 1, 2007... Byline: from staff and bloomberg news reports Tourists flock to New York City A record 44 million visitors pumped more than $24 billion into the Big Apple last year, according to NYC & Company. That's up 7.3% from 2005, and Mayor...

Terror fund campaign gains steam; Insurance subsidy a high priority among Democratic committee leaders.(News)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Julie Satow for the first time since Sept. 11, the real estate and insurance industries are gaining momentum in their effort to secure long-term federal subsidies for terrorism coverage. The incoming chairmen of the Senate...

IPOS: THINGS OF THE PAST.(Report: Economic Outlook)(Correction notice)
January 1, 2007... ***** Correction: Steve Fadem is the chief executive of Relegence Corp. His name was misstated in a story on IPOs in the Jan. 1 "Economic Outlook Report.'' ***** It's unlikely that many new firms will emulate Internet 1.0...

Restaurant finds temporary recipe.(Small Business)(Kostas Kiritsis opens Mediterranean cafe)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Kostas kiritsis, who owned eight restaurants in Poland before moving to New York in 1992, has opened a European cafe on East 10th Street. Mr. Kiritsis says his target audience is "everybody." He already has a coterie of customers who swear...

Local colleges get in the game; Sports management programs spring up as leagues make play for qualified staff.(News)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Samantha Marshall Steve olwell, a 21-year-old senior at St. John's University, wants to be the next Theo Epstein. The sports management major--a diehard New York Mets fan--hopes to run a major league team by the time he's in his...

Falling oil prices hit Hess Corp.; profits to ebb for first time in 18 months.(In the Markets)(earnings for Schering-Plough Corp. and JetBlue Airways Corp. )(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... The good news last week was that Hess found a lot more oil in its field deep under the Gulf of Mexico. The bad news was that the price of that petroleum went into a nosedive, falling nearly 9% in just two days as prices slid to 18-month lows....

Crazy 'bout burgers; Beef on a bun goes upscale at passel of new joints.(News)(rapid opening of fast food restaurants)
January 8, 2007... Byline: LISA FICKENSCHER New Yorkers may be forced to give up trans fats and cigarettes, but they can still savor their red meat. The lust for beef is fueling an explosion of burger joints--a surge that is taking even jaded New York...

All that glitters--in one spot; Week of Jan. 22.(Business Lives)
January 8, 2007... What could be more to the point in the financial capital of the world than an exhibit about gold? Head to the American Museum of Natural History for a dazzling display of one of the world's most prized minerals. With items ranging from ancient...

Bird-watching takes wing; Week of Feb. 12.(Business Lives)
January 8, 2007... Not all birds fly south for the winter. Help tally those that stayed home in Brooklyn by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count in Prospect Park. It's one of many events on tap for the park's annual Winter Festival, which kicks off...

Best of Bob Lape.(Business Lives)(Italian restaurants)(Directory)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Following are other neighborhood Italian restaurants. 'Cesca 2 1/2 164 W. 75th St. (between Amsterdam Avenue and Central Park West), Manhattan. (212) 787-6300. New chef Kevin Garcia (of Del Posto) keeps this popular Upper West Sider in...

Hot Jobs.(Business Lives)
January 8, 2007... Byline: kira bindrim WANTED: editor in chief PUBLICATION Symphony magazine JOB DESCRIPTION Overseeing editorial content, management, operations and budget of the American Symphony Orchestra League's bimonthly title MOST...

Engineers strike looms; Health care remains key to deadlocked talks with landlords.(News)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Julie Satow Thousands of engineers who operate New York's largest office towers could go on strike this week. The 6,000-member International Union of Operating Engineers Local 94 has been in negotiations with the Realty...

Help! I need a job.(Business Lives)(opinion of Mark Neiman on finding employment)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... This is the best time for a search, because companies have gotten their budgets and know how much they have to staff up to meet goals. January also brings new management, which means layoffs and new hires. Use a combination of recruiters and...

Cure for winter blahs; Stuck in the city? Crain's picks a different diversion for each of the next 8 weeks.(Business Lives)
January 8, 2007... Byline: louise kramer The New Year is just beginning and winter seems to be long delayed, but already New Yorkers are checking out airfares to Aspen or Anguilla. Sure, the city can inspire the urge to flee, but there are plenty of...

Cobble Hill co-op apartment takes some cobbling; Entrepreneur finds gem in Brooklyn, but making it a dream home is an ordeal.(Business Lives)(Wendy Simmons)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Margaret Jaworski On a december day, an abundance of natural light floods through the impossibly tall windows framing Wendy Simmons' living/dining area. A set of 17th-century French chairs complements the farmhouse-style dining...

On the horizon: IPOs by hedge funds; 20 funds could go public; may have to tone down style.(News)(initial public offerings)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Aaron Elstein Hedge fund managers, Wall Street's wizards behind the curtain, are seeking to cash in on their eye-popping success by selling shares to the public. More than 20 hedge funds are expected to conduct initial public...

New York, New York.(Briefs)(Burgers & Cupcakes)
January 8, 2007... Byline: edited by Valerie Block Will Oprah bio hurt book biz? Last month, when Crown Publishers signed up dirt-digging biographer Kitty Kelley to write an unauthorized biography of Oprah Winfrey (above), it looked like the Random House...

STUDENTS SEEK Host businesses; exploring careers.(Small Business)(Brief article)
January 8, 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...

Costar seeks info on real estate deals; 2006 top leases, top sales.(News)
January 8, 2007... COSTAR GROUP INC. is compiling data for two lists covering the 2006 New York real estate market. The first is a list of the largest office leasing deals in Manhattan; the second is a list of the largest property sales in the five boroughs. The...

High school crusader; New NAF president focuses on reforming education to prepare students for careers.(Business Lives)(J.D. Hoye, National Academy Foundation president)(Biography)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Samantha Marshall Nothing less than transforming the nation's school system from the inside out tops the to-do list of J.D. Hoye, the new president of the National Academy Foundation. The veteran education reform advocate, who took...

At Deadline.(Late News)(Merrill Lynch and Company Inc. blames New York Mercantile Exchange of overpriced securities)(WildLife Conservation Society signs advertising contract with Deutsch Inc.)(Haier America introduces high end consumer electronic products)
January 8, 2007... This year's Armory Show, a contemporary art fair, has been moved up by about a month to coincide with The Art Show--creating a major art event in New York during Feb. 22-26. The two fairs are expected to attract 60,000 visitors. A number of...

Downtown contract for big law firm; Sullivan & Cromwell expands to Water St.; phone seller makes NY connection.(Real Estate)
January 8, 2007... One of New York City's largest law firms has expanded its offices in lower Manhattan. Sullivan & Cromwell, which handled nearly $763 billion worth of merger and acquisition deals in 2006, has signed a 20-year lease for 67,000 square feet, or...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
January 8, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli this week's events january 9 Young Men's/Women's Real Estate Association holds lunch program with John Yormak, chief operating officer of Broadway Partners. 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., 1 W. 54th St. Fee:...

Executive Moves.(Business Lives)(appointments)
January 8, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli Advertising & communications Dan Klores Communications: Rick Cerrone, 52, joined as senior vice president of the sports division. He had been senior director, media relations, for the New York Yankees. ...

Mr. Clean.(Business Lives)(Joseph Spinelli)(Brief article)(Biography)
January 8, 2007... Byline: tom fredrickson Joseph Spinelli, 57, chief operating officer of Daylight Forensic & Advisory, is a fraud buster. The former FBI agent, who bills upward of $500 an hour, specializes in finding and preventing corruption in schools,...

Hospitals' ill-fated fight for life; Facilities sue NY over Berger-mandated shutdowns, but law is on state's side.(News)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Gale Scott A growing number of hospitals facing closure by the state are seeking judicial reprieves, but experts say that their efforts are likely to fail. Six suits have been filed so far; the most recent was brought last...

Making 2007 pay off; 10 businesses set goals for the year and look back at 2006.(Small Business)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Tina Traster Crain's asked the owners of 10 small businesses to share their New Year's resolutions and to tell us a bit about how they fared in 2006. Their responses, which follow, paint a revealing picture of the city's vital...

Window company defies the odds; Crystal builds big NY factory; Chinese market is next target.(Small Business)(Crystal Window & Door Systems Ltd.)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Victoria Rivkin These days, more and more New York companies are outsourcing their production to China. Not Crystal Window & Door Systems Ltd. Instead, the Queens-based window and door manufacturer last month opened its own...

Hits & Misses; Fledgling firms' key moves.(online shopping site Sortprice.com and periodical "Urban Biker" launched)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Lisa Goff Shopping site trades up Recent reports that online-shopping sites hugely inflate the number of clicks they generate have made many merchants wary of pay-per-click advertising. In 2004, partners Doron Simovitch and...

Friendly, local Italian places; Five neighborhood restaurants are small in size, but big on authentic fare.(Business Lives)(Restaurant review)
January 8, 2007... let's start the year with some neighborhood places of special quality. All are Italian, with first-rate kitchens, deep wine cellars, notable value and caring service. Warmth and conviviality pervade them all, credit cards are welcome, and wines...

Applying old ideals to Crain's new tasks.
January 8, 2007... Byline: Greg David The arrival of the new year brings this annual column outlining what Crain's New York Business is and describing its journalistic philosophy. This year's edition begins with an explanation of our ambitious plans for the...

Spitzer aides plan to review big projects; ESDC's new chiefs promise to overhaul agency; star-studded panel to court execs.(News)(Empire State Development Corp.)(Eliot Spitzer)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Erik Engquist Gov. Eliot Spitzer's new economic development team is embarking on an overhaul of the Empire State Development Corp., beginning this week with a hard look at every pending and recently approved project. The...

Spitzer plan attacks state's ills.(Viewpoint)(Eliot Spitzer)
January 8, 2007... Eliot spitzer's campaign pledge that "Day One, everything changes'' might have been a tad over the top, but in Week One, the new governor laid out an impressive agenda to fix what ails New York. The object of any overhaul has long been...

The Insider.(Briefs)(New York State Food Industry Alliance fights nickel deposits on noncarbonated beverages)(New York City Economic Development Corp. studies rate cap on garbage carters)(New York City City Council terms)
January 8, 2007... Byline: erik engquist and anne michaud Bottle-deposit battle brewing The new york state Food Industry Alliance is preparing a strategy to beat back the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill, which environmentalists have been pushing in Albany....

On the Agenda: Spitzer's Week 1; New team faces big task filling vacancies.(Briefs)(Eliot Spitzer)
January 8, 2007... new health commish may be hard to find Sources say a state health commissioner may not be appointed before the end of the month, as several big names in the field have turned the job down. One rejection came from Dr. Michael Stocker,...

Seven ways to land angels; Early-stage investors supply not just cash, but hands-on help.(how to find investors)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Tina Traster When she came out of Columbia Business School a few years ago, Andrea Miller had an idea for a magazine and an interactive Web site about personal relationships. She did the groundwork, then went looking for cash. ...

With big merger blocked, Warner stuck on sour note; Shares down 30%; sluggish album sales keep investors away.(In the Markets)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Tom Fredrickson Last year, Warner Music Group Corp. was the only major recording company to grow its market share. The company added a full percentage point to its share of U.S. album sales, Nielsen SoundScan announced on Friday....

Broadcast media in funk; Marginal '07 seen after lackluster '06; stations need ways to fight Web's mojo.(News)(radio and television broadcasting compete with internet for advertising contracts)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Matthew Flamm Across New York, executives at local radio and television stations have one thing in common: They're glad 2006 is over. Unfortunately, 2007 isn't looking much better. Television insiders are predicting a...

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S WIDE-RANGING NIGHTCLUB PROPOSAL? CRAIN'S ONLINE POLL.(Viewpoint)
January 8, 2007... More than two-thirds of the 115 respondents to a NewYorkBusiness.com poll support the council's initiative to tighten restrictions on bars and clubs. The remaining participants say the plan doesn't do enough to curb underage drinking and...

Write stuff.(Karen Levy, calligrapher)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... Byline: elisabeth butler Karen Levy, 65, works as a calligrapher, inscribing place cards, invitations and menus for individuals and some of the city's largest companies, including Saks Fifth Avenue and J.P. Morgan Chase. necessity Ms....

CoStar seeks info on real estate deals; Top leases, sales.(CoStar Group Inc. to compile data for real estate market)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... COSTAR GROUP INC. is compiling data for two lists covering the 2006 New York real estate market. The first is a list of the largest office leasing deals in Manhattan; the second is a list of the largest property sales in the five boroughs. ...

Best of Bob Lape.(Quality Meats, Craftsteak and Porter House New York)(Directory)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... Quality Meats (3.5) 57 W. 58th St. (between Fifth and Sixth avenues), Manhattan. (212) 371-7777. Rustic New American food and great service in a playful setting that suggests a high-design meat locker. Craftsteak (2.5) 85 10th...

Newsweek on Time: We'll stay the course; Sees rival's changes as a boost; stronger Web presence helps.
January 15, 2007... Byline: Matthew Flamm January has been a busy month for Time, which is valiantly attempting to cheat death, or at least irrelevance, by becoming a new kind of newsmagazine. Which prompts the question: Will Newsweek, Time's veritable twin,...

Firms flee midtown rent run-up; 30% rise and counting has many weighing moves out of the area.(Real Estate Report)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Andrew Marks For more than two decades, the U.S. publishing arm of EMI Group happily called midtown Manhattan home. Early last year, when the company opened negotiations about renewing its lease, the good times ended. "The...

Fast-running Steven Madden stubs toe as profits slow from triple-digit rates.(In the Markets)
January 15, 2007... In recent years, few companies have done more to enrich their shareholders than shoemaker Steven Madden. Its shares soared 83% last year, and 56% in 2005. This year, the shoe is on the other foot. So far, the shares are off 3%. Analysts...

Hot Jobs.
January 15, 2007... Byline: amanda fung WANTED: development director institution New York Methodist Hospital JOB DESCRIPTION Meeting short- and long-term fund-raising goals, creating service programs and coordinating special events MOST IMPORTANT...

At Deadline.(Late News)
January 15, 2007... Verizon Communications' plan to start offering television service in the city early in 2007 appears to be in jeopardy. The City Council passed a law allowing the telecom company to pursue a cable TV franchise three months ago, but the city has...

COMPTROLLER JOB Who's in line?(Briefs)
January 15, 2007... Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Albany's legislative leaders named a panel of three last week to interview potential replacements for state Comptroller Alan Hevesi (right). The panel must come up with five names, which will go to the Legislature for a...

HOSTS SOUGHT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS; exploring careers.(News)(Brief article)
January 15, 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...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)
January 15, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli january 16 Camba Small Business Services holds workshop on how to write a business plan. 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., 884 Flatbush Ave., second floor, Brooklyn. Free. (718) 282-2500, ext. 242, or...

Executive Moves.(Peter Bible joins Amper Politziner & Mattia)(Gary M. Arrick and Rob Vanderbeek promoted at Huron Consulting Group)(Tony Telloni joins Burson-Marsteller)
January 15, 2007... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli accounting & consulting Amper Politziner & Mattia: Peter Bible, 48, joined as partner in charge, New York. He had been chief accounting officer at General Motors. ERE: Gary Choolfaian, 50, joined as...

Condo builders butter up brokers; Offer prizes, parties, cash as market slows, buyers get choosier.(Real Estate Report)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Dean Starkman At first glance, the glossy, full-color, full-page ads for 45 Park Ave. look like countless others trying to drum up buyer interest in yet another deluxe Manhattan condominium tower. But instead of the usual images of...

FOUND IN YONKERS.(Yonker city unveils development plan for the downtown)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... As tenants warm to the idea of locating in accessible suburban space, even once overlooked areas like Yonkers are maneuvering to get in on the action. Westchester's largest city has unveiled a $3.1 billion master plan to redevelop a broad swath...

Trader Joe's hits snag in Queens; Delayed store part of area renaissance; S.I. building slump.(Neighborhood Journal)
January 15, 2007... Residents of Forest Hills, Queens, will have to wait a few more months for the arrival of Trader Joe's. But the good news is that retail development in one of the borough's poshest neighborhoods remains largely on track. "We're trying to...

How do I find the right personal trainer?(Business Lives)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... Byline: tim keightley Vice president of fitness and personal training New York Sports Clubs when choosing someone at a club, ask the fitness manager instead of going directly to a trainer. Explain your goals. Before you commit, meet for an...

Tenants take aim on train stations; Easy access to city is a must for firms locating in suburbs; premium pricing.(Real Estate Report)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Laura Koss-feder Executives at Barrow Street Capital were tired of paying $95 a square foot for office space on Park Avenue and eager to move to the northern suburbs, where several of them live. There was, however, one important...

Good deal, great space--but it's still Jersey City; Area can't overcome being perceived as remote; bargain-hunters go downtown.(Real Estate Report)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Laura Koss-feder Richard lefrak, chief executive of Manhattan-based developer The Lefrak Organization Inc., has an answer for all those companies fed up with Manhattan's soaring rents. The answer is a place where acres of...

Russian manufacturer on Madison; Firm establishes U.S. headquarters; park view for clothier.(Basic Element Inc. opens USA office)(Paul & Shark relocating USA headoffice)(Hellman & Friedman leases top floor of Lever House)
January 15, 2007... The owner of the world's largest aluminum maker is opening an office in the United States. Basic Element Inc., which controls Russia-based manufacturer Rusal, has signed a 10-year lease for 11,000 square feet at 660 Madison Ave. The building,...

Hating the tough love; Staffers can opt out of morale-building tasks.(Business Lives)
January 15, 2007... Byline: hilary potkewitz Corporate retreats featuring competitive team-building activities are all the rage, but not everyone feels built up by the experience. For many New Yorkers--overweight or featherweight, uncoordinated or...

DoubleClick pares back to core; Focus on delivering online ads pays off as company wins new clients, fills in gaps.(News)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Amanda Fung Late last year, DoubleClick Inc. sold off its database management business for $435 million. True, the sales price comes to barely a quarter of what DoubleClick paid for the unit seven years ago. But the sale...

Eager developers grab land on far West Side; 5 million square feet of housing going up; hotels, offices seen.(News)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Julie Satow Two years after the city rezoned Hudson Yards, the 45-block former industrial wasteland is on the brink of a transformation. The development of 5 million square feet of housing, or nearly 40% of the total amount...

ALWAYS A KICK.(Major League Soccer organizes morale-boosting activities for employees)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... The staff roster of New York-based Major League Soccer is full of people who were high school, college and professional players. "But we also have some employees who never played soccer,'' says Human Resources Director Susie Goldsmith, who...

Kobe Club makes the cut; Newest steakhouse entrant slashes its way onto scene; wine list reads like a book.(Business Lives)(Restaurant review)
January 15, 2007... With the debut of Kobe Club, two of New York's most impressive meateries now face each other across West 58th Street. Jeffrey Chodorow's new restaurant and Quality Meats, from the father-son team of Alan and Michael Stillman, may now parry...

SURVIVOR! Strategies for handling a retreat.(Business Lives)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... Research what activities will be involved. "It is absolutely reasonable to ask what types of games or physically demanding tasks will be in the program.'' --Deborah Navins, director of special events at Chelsea Piers If you don't...

Exterminators make killing on bedbugs; Pest companies can barely keep up with complaints; ads focus on new services.(Small Business)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Caroline Preston For most new yorkers, bedbugs are tiny, blood-sucking creatures increasingly likely to wreak havoc on people's home lives. For Richard Cappa, they are a godsend. "Out of nowhere, they're the big...

Bronx offers refuge for manufacturers; Hard-pressed firms eager to remain in city home in on affordable space.(Real Estate Report)
January 15, 2007... Byline: Wendy Davis Spiro Mantzakos was a man on a seemingly impossible mission--to find an affordable new home for his successful, 11-year-old food distribution business without leaving the city. Metro Foods had outgrown its home in...

HELPING HAND.(Real Estate Report)(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... Bronx officials have not just been sitting back and waiting for the world to beat a path to their door. In recent years, they have launched various marketing efforts and incentive programs. Three years ago, for example, the borough created a...