The Municipal Art Society of New York hosted
a jocular debate aboard the tall ship Peking at South Street
Seaport recently that pitted the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn
against each other.
"The Better Borough: Brooklyn or Manhattan?"
event was held last month as a fundraiser to benefit the society.
It seemed a mighty blow to Brooklyn’s defenders when it was announced
that our boisterous Borough President Marty Markowitz bowed out
at the last minute, while Manhattan Beep C. Virginia Fields –
supposedly in China – sent her regards from Beijing via a representative,
Bradford Sussman.
Markowitz sent a statement requesting a neutral site for future
debates, such as Staten Island.
Impartial moderator Andy Borowitz, of Westchester, a comedian
and author, lightened the mood when it seemed that the crowd
might mobilize and attack the panelists which included Apollo
Theater Foundation Executive Director David Rodriguez and chef
and Food Network host Mario Batali for Manhattan and on the side
of Kings County were Brooklyn Brewery owner Steve Hindy and National
Public Radio host Kurt Andersen.
"These events tend to work better when everyone’s had too
much to drink," said Borowitz.
Batali, wearing orange Converse sneakers, admitted that he had
visited Brooklyn only twice!
"Brooklyn kids are cool, there’s no disputing it,"
said the corpulent chef before riling the Brooklynites with:
"But they didn’t choose to live there. They got stuck there
[because of lower rents]. My kids will inherit my apartment as
their pied a terre. It doesn’t cost half my salary to live in
Manhattan." Batali owns Manhattan’s Babbo, Lupa, Esca and
Otto restaurants.
Andersen bristled, "I chose to live in Brooklyn. It’s alive,
and not resting on its laurels like the theme park that is Manhattan.
Brooklyn is still happening. Manhattan stopped happening in 1934!"
Said Rodriguez, "There’s no famous people from Brooklyn."
"The artists I know live there because it’s a liveable place,"
said Hindy. "It’s true many famous Brooklynites move to
Manhattan, but their essential creativity happens in Brooklyn.
When they move to Manhattan, they become tiresome windbags."
When the talk turned to food, Hindy claimed that some of the
best food in New York is being prepared on Park Slope’s Fifth
Avenue, to which Batali retorted, "I live on Fifth Avenue
and I didn’t know there was another one." Batali did, however,
take the high road, declining to disparage any Brooklyn restaurants.
Brooklyn won by a small margin, 5-4, but Borowitz did toss Manhattan
a bone: "In blood-alcohol level, Manhattan was the clear
winner!"
"We’re always arguing in a serious manner and we wanted
a lighthearted discussion about a question we couldn’t possibly
answer," explained Frank Sanchis, executive director of
the Municipal Art Society, which is a private, non-profit membership
organization that advocates for excellence in urban planning,
contemporary architecture, historic preservation and public art.
"We hit on all the things that make New York City great
and we need to protect them and make sure they don’t vanish,"
he said.
Following the raucous proceedings, attendees were ushered to
a New York Water Taxi stand at the Seaport where they boarded
the yellow ferries for a ride to DUMBO. Disoriented Manhattanites
latched onto sympathetic Brooklynites as they wound their way
through the dark, cobblestone streets to Superfine restaurant
where they braced themselves with complimentary cocktails before
taking the F train home.
Another chance
There will be another opportunity to cheer for the home team
– and a bit of self reflection – at Pratt Institute. On Nov.
17 at 6:30 pm, Pratt invites you to "Brooklyn: What is Hip?"
moderated by novelist Dirk Wittenborn and featuring a panel of
Brooklyn luminaries including Gavin McInness, co-founder of Williamsburg’s
VICE magazine; Danny Simmons, an author and gallery owner; Vickie
Starr, co-owner of Girlie Action Media and Marketing; and musician
Marc Anthony Thompson a.k.a. Chocolate Genius.
The free event will take place at Memorial Hall on the Brooklyn
Campus, 200 Willoughby Ave. in Fort Greene. To reserve a seat,
call (718) 636-3657 or email events@pratt.edu.
