Who Lives & Parties in Meatpacking?

In the 1930’s New York’s Meatpacking District, once produced the nations third largest volume of meat, “but today boutiques, bars and clubs are more common than rump roast.”

Presently, the Meatpacking District is full of people who are not exactly looking to buy fresh meat, but instead get their party on at one of the many clubs the area has to offer. 

On a sunny, cloudless, beautiful day in downtown Manhattan a ten-person survey was conducted, relayed that there is an equal amount of tourists and locals who come to this area of New York to enjoy a night out, ranging from ages 20 to 40.

“Trendy people mostly live here and go out here- those who are into fashion.  Definitely not a lot of tourists, mostly locals,” relayed, psychologist, Louis Revilla, 38 from Upper West Side, NY as he was on his way to Sunday brunch.

Disagreeing is, Jordan Rowland, 26, an event planner who lives in the east village, NY.  She explained that, “most of the people who go out around here are tourists and also a lot of bridge and tunnel.”

Christos Konomis, 47, from Greece is visiting New York on holiday- a perfect example of the average tourist in Meatpacking.  Even though he is a tourist he feels that the majority of people amongst himself are locals.  He explained in his thick Greek accent, “when I go out here at night the majority of people are from here, young people between the ages of 25 and 40.”  He also added, “you don’t see a lot of families around here either.”

Because the Meatpacking District is mostly made up of bars, clubs and restaurants it is not deemed an ideal place to raise a family.  Anyways, the cobble stone road throughout the neighborhood would be a difficult surface for a toddler to learn how to walk or ride a bike on.

“I have lived in Manhattan all my life,” exclaimed, Grad Student, Chelsea Cohn, 26, who now lives near by the Meatpacking District.  “The majority of those who live in this area are people ranging from the ages 20 to 40.  They usually do not have families, and they love the New York City nightlife.  That’s why I live here!”  However, when it comes to those who go out in this area she agrees with Jordan that the majority of the people are mostly tourists.

Dmitry Kilin, 28, works for a hedge fund and was born and raised in New York.  “Most of the people who live here are young,” he stated.  “And as for the old people who live here, they think they’re young,” he added with a chuckle.

NYU student, Peter Shu, 20, states, “I wasn’t around in the 1930’s when this area was all about selling meat, and even though it has changed I don’t see anyone complaining.”

 He continued, “my boys and I come here on the weekends and even though I am under aged I give the bouncers my fake ID and cross my fingers that I get in.  These clubs are amazing and worth the risk.”

Weather Story

Weather Story

Although Manhattan experienced a severe winter, many people around Greenwich Village did not seem to mind it, but were glad that spring is nearing.

A few people in Washington Square Park in Manhattan seemed nonchalant in their description of the recent weather.  Most were optimistic that the winter was now over.

“I actually really enjoyed it, I love seeing feets of snow, and it reminded me of where I’m from," said NYU student Devin Smith from Minnesota as he wolfed down a huge subway sandwich.

International businessman, Santi Garcia, 37, from warm and sunny Mexico said, “I don’t like this kind of cold weather but the city is very cool so it doesn’t matter.”  He was shivering with his hands in his pee coat pockets yet he had no desire to leave New York.

At first a little nervous, a young woman offered her opinion on the weather.  “I’m from a sunny place.  The winter here was pretty difficult with all the snow storms we had,” explained photographer, Janni Martinez, 24, from Puerto Rico.  “It’s exciting though because it was my first winter in the states, the first time with snow.”

Student, Mari Amini, 22 from New York, NY is happy that the warm weather is nearing yet didn’t feel that this was the worst winter New York has experienced.  “The worst winter I experienced was when I was really little. I don’t think I went to school for a week.”

Washington Square Park has been a desolate place over the last few months, and now it appears that life is flocking towards it.  Many people are gathered around the park: reading, playing music, and singing.

"Although I love the snow, I can’t wait for spring," said Devin Smith. "I swear 500 pretty girls who didn't live in New York move here in the spring."

Artichoke Pizza

A small sampling of Artichoke Pizza employees and customers were recently interviewed, in which the employees at the newly established Artichoke Pizza in New York, located at 111 MacDougal St. expressed that this store is not yet as popular as the original Artichoke Pizza located at 328 East 14th St.
The two employees interviewed at the Artichoke Pizza on 14th Street both believe that the Artichoke Pizza on MacDougal is gaining a lot of business, however, the two employees that work at the new Artichoke Pizza suppose that the stores location is still widely unknown. The new Artichoke only opened in November but due to its prime location near several bars and the New York University campus, there’s hope that this store will be as popular as the original.
James Lettera, 27, from West Point, CT works at the new Artichoke Pizza. He stated that, “This area is a perfect location for the store. We’re next to several bars and the NYU campus is close too, but seeing that we only opened in November we’re currently not getting as many customers as the original Artichoke, which has been around for three years.”
Artichoke employee from Senegal, West Africa, 25, who goes by the name Spider, originally worked at the Artichoke Pizza on 14th Street and is now working at the store on MacDougal. With his thick accent he stated that, “The Artichoke on 14th always has a really long line on weekend nights when everyone’s drunk and looking for a late night bite. I think as time goes on though that this Artichoke will be more popular than the original.”
14th Street customer and NYU student, Cameron Javadi, 20, from Washington D.C. has eaten at both Artichoke Pizzas and explains that “the pizza at both Artichoke’s is exactly the same but the store on 14th is well known.”
Despite this last remark, when the Artichoke Pizza on MacDougal first opened, an article was published on Nov. 28, in the Washington Square News, by Julie Devito, stating that, “The longest line on MacDougal isn't for some new bar or Sam Sifton's favorite restaurant, but for the latest addition to the Artichoke Basille Pizza family.”
When 14th Street Artichoke employee, Christina Peralta, 20, from Mineola, NY was asked to give her opinion about the new Artichoke Pizza on MacDougal Street, she stated, “I’m happy to see that we’re expanding our store. The Artichoke over there is getting popular and has been having a lot of customers since it opened.”
In an article written on Nov. 30 about the Artichoke Pizza on McDougal, blogger for the Village Voice, Lauren Shockey, confirms that the stores “already doing brisk business selling slices until the wee hours of the morning (like the other locations, it's open until 5 a.m.).
Peralta sees a bright future for Artichoke Pizza. “We’ll be gaining many customers in all our stores being opened across the U.S. We recently opened an Artichoke in Vegas, and if we remain successful we may be opening a booth at Giant Stadium. My fingers are crossed!”