Me eyeing a bottle of Aquadeco while wearing my Flower#19 Pendant inspired by the Art Deco building at 19 East 88th Street.  The photo is backwards because I took it on my webcam/Apple Photobooth.

Apparently, this is not new to the world but I just discovered it this evening at the Duane Reade on 89th Street and Madison Avenue.

Aquadeco – a bottled spring water company that first designed a bottle and then set about finding a water source, according to their website.

I did a bit of googling and came across some blog mentions including a T Magazine post by Steven Heller where he compares the Aquadeco bottle unfavorably against other designy bottles by Voss, Fred and Fiji.  Heller calls the Aquadeco bottle design “less Chanel than Woolworths”, resembling a “novelty perfume.”

I do not disagree with the “novelty perfume” aspect of the Aquadeco bottle and the Chanel/Woolworths comment is super on point.  It is a cliched representation of Art Deco but… I like it!

Is it counter-progressive that I find the ernest “design” of the Voss and Fred bottles pretentious?  I am a big fan of art deco but also of whimsy and some kitsch.  In fact, I have to admit, last week at the Food Emporium on 87th and Madison Avenue they had a special discount on Voss water, only 99 cents for that big bottle and I was too embarrassed to buy it!  Not to buy it since the cashiers knew it was on sale, but to be seen drinking it.  (Now that I’ve admitted it I guess I’ll make myself buy it if it is on sale again.)

Anyway, if I saw someone drinking an Aquadeco water I’d say, “Neat! Your water bottle is Art Deco! And the company is named Aquadeco! Neato!”

There were many comments below Steven Heller’s blog post arguing against the pointless waste of this fetishistic design and that new designs should be sustainable.

Ok, I know they’re right!  But, having been an eager scholar of the subject of Decadence in both high school and college, I can’t help but find this kind of vanity project endearing.

The founder of Aquadeco, Arnold Gumowitz is a real estate developer and art collector and Aquadeco seems to be a platform for sponsoring or being involved with celebrity events and Art Deco related events.  It does taste good, too (I just tried it).  This plastic bottle was $1.99 tonight and no more expensive than similarly sized bottles.  I read that Aquadeco also make a $12 glass bottle with an optional light to place beneath.  Not on my shopping list this week but maybe someday.  I suppose if you could remove the logo and keep the glass bottle as a vase it would be a little more environmentally friendly.

Also, here are three pics from the Aquadeco facebook page.

The last time I vomited was also the last time I ate at Jamba Juice on Lexington Ave and 87th Street, two years ago.  It was the oatmeal with some sort of “berry” topping.  Granted, I was hungover, but I have never on any other occasion in my life vomited in association with alcohol consumption.

Anyhoo, I felt vindicated when I saw this Jamba Juice had received a “C” on their restaurant report card from the city health inspector.  I took this picture on March 8, 2011.

BUT! Only a few days later the orange “C” was gone and nothing has replaced it still, as of April 2.  WTF?

I had to add my own C.

NYC restaurant report card website

Plain is here.

Carnegie Hill is changing fast.  I go to the West Coast for one week and Petak’s closes! Katie texted me while I was in Las Vegas and I was shocked.  I walked by the empty store the other night and passed a man carrying a Petak’s bag- I looked at the sign on the store window, then at him and he returned a knowing, sad look.  Soon the plastic Petak’s bag won’t be a UES accessory like the Fairway bag continues to be on the West side.

LISTS FOR CARNEGIE HILL (confined to my limited walking area)

CLOSED/MOVING

• Petak’s = Closed (I lament the loss of their chicken noodle soup, chicken nuggets, and skinny potato pancakes they had only during holidays, among other things.)
• Bolton’s = Closed (always wondered who shopped there except my grandmother when she used to visit from the nursing home in Philly when I was little.  Bolton’s was in that spot for at least 30 years?)
• Didi’s Children’s Boutique = Closed  (out of all the baby stores I did think this one was kind of cool because of all the wooden German import toys.  Could find unique gifts.)
• Schatzie’s Prime Meats = moving to the West side (shoot, need to take advantage of the Dirty Briscuit Sandwich special before they move.  Only ever get the soup.)
• Feldman’s IV Hardware = Moving further East (was convenient to have a hardware store on the corner but was really overpriced.  i saw they had a clothing rack there for $40.  bought the exact same one instead at Bed Bath and Beyond for $20, thing was a piece of crap and returned it for full refund.  Would have been even more pissed if I have paid $40- but wouldn’t have had to go as far for the return.  would they have taken it back?  BBB has good no questions asked return policy.
• Village Designer Shoes = closed with sign that said co-op tripled our rent (old school signage, very UES shoes but here and there some good deals and cheap slippers)
• Romeo’s Barbershop = closed (had only opened recently, gave haircuts, developed film, repaired shoes and computers…too bad…that was my dad’s new haircut spot)
• Boghen Pharmacy = closed (old-school fancy pharmacy – one of the few business on Park Avenue)

MUST STAY

• Petak’s (closed)
• Blacker & Kooby
• Mark Millikin – and I bet they will stay- have they not cornered the market on ceramic cows on wheels?  Such a ridiculous place it makes me kind of happy.
• Jackson Hole
• New Amity Restaurant
• Sarabeth’s
• Gerald Bland – not reeeaally, but out of all the recent antique stores in the area I like this one- has really eclectic collection, some art deco, some mid-century, some older, and not bland at all!
• Yura – I don’t like Dean & Delucca’s uptown.  I prefer the smaller catering places like Petak’s (R.I.P.) and Yura – great baked goods!
• Moormends – If only because they now have a mini version of the old P.S. I Love You store inside.

WHAT I WOULD WELCOME IN THE EMPTY SPACES

• Gourmet catering/food store that sells local produce like Forager’s in DUMBO.
• Specific specialty food store like Pickles & Olives, etc. on 1st Ave (Can never have enough of these)
• Bakery (remember Ecce Panis?  never enough bakeries either)
• Something like DTUT! i.e. a coffeeshop hangout (Hard to make money from all the lounging people do, maybe they can swing some added income by selling merchandise, or it could be some rich person’s vanity project)
• Radio station a la East Village Radio but with a crazy Uptown twist.
• Small art gallery to make up for the loss of Project Room 88

WHAT I DON’T WANT TO MOVE IN

• Baby clothing store – we especially don’t need any more French ones.
• Chain stores like Duane Reade or Walgreens
• Bank storefront
• Another Viand or Three Guys Restaurant- we have enough.

This is “The Musher” – one of Papaya King’s (86th and Third Ave.) new specials – a hot dog with fresh grilled mushrooms and onions – pictured here with ketchup. It’s really good. I’ve had several since this first one.