The Mantalist?

Terror on the park.

The mothership of tacky.

The Observer has always wanted to know what this abomination of architecture is doing in Flushing Meadows Park. It looks like a War of the Worlds mechanical robot mated with a suburban office park.

A simple web search reveals that this monstrosity of Soviet era exteriors is in fact the world’s cheeziest place for the bridge and tunnel set to get hitched with over the top Louis the XIVth interiors. Grotesque in two completely different ways inside and out.

http://www.terraceonthepark.com/

Inequitably humongous.

The Observer has often wondered why many buildings in Manhattan have a ziggurat (step pyramid) configuration on the upper floors. Considering the expense of real estate in Gotham one would assume you’d build as straight and efficiently as possible. Aim for the stars, touch the sky, take the rent, reap the riches.

The answer lies in the Equitable building.

Upon its completion in 1915 the Equitable was the largest building in the world in terms of floor space. It rose almost 600 feet above Broadway and cast a shadow of over 7 acres. It’s immensity caused Gothamites pause. Worried that more buildings like it would result in a dark cave-like existance at street level the 1916 zoning resolution was passed. This law required that buildings of a certain height have set backs. Based on a mathmatical formula a building must either move back from the sidewalk (like the towers on 6th avenue around Rockerfeller Center) or have a retracement on the upper floors allowing for light and air to mingle with the buzzing masses below.

Ziggurat expained.

Crushing commute.

The Observer wonders why the MTA wishes to make the slog to work in the grim confines of the Times Square tunnel all the more disheartening with this installation. Did they take down the “KILL YOURSELF” chapter to this sad story?

Inspector Clouseau shopped here….

One of these things is not like the other....

The Observer is thinking about going clubbing tonight. While The Observer’s date will be decked out in body sparkle, 4 inch heels and a silver Cher wig The Observer will be rocking his own unique look: Leon Trotsky as 70’s porn star.