20 February 2008

Not Longer Seeing Red


Like cockroaches, chain stores will make a home in any nook or cranny where they see an opening.

This tiny Dunkin' Donuts is on a semi-subterranean level of the 50th Street subway stop on the 1 line. What makes its presence so galling is this where the old Siberia bar used to be. Siberia was a deliciously gritty, grungy hole-in-the-wall dive that had a particularly cool vibe because it was hidden from view, and known only to those who knew it. The owners claimed the space used to be a gathering of old KGB types. From spies to sprinkles; not much of an evolution.

3 comments:

  1. I remember the old Siberia bar. And now its DD ... that's so sad. I moved away from NYC about 5 years ago, but I'm glad I did because it is now so homogenized. During a recent visit, I was shocked to see nothing but Bank of America, Starbucks and ugly new condo buildings everywhere.
    How could this happen to NYC??!!!

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  2. Wonder what Anthony Bourdain has to say about this. I understand he was a Siberia regular. Now, the ghost of Rachael Ray is haunting him at every turn.

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  3. In December, New York Mag reported that Tracy Westmoreland is searching for a THIRD location for SIBERIA. So it is likely that it will reappear in the future. This was the first location, and the most eccentric. It was my after-work bar back when I worked at 1775 Bway across the street. What a most excellent dump!

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