New York Magazine: August 18, 2008 Issue

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002

August 18, 2008

Cover Story

The Impossible Conversation

(I) The Color-Coded Campaign In a Democratic year, why isn’t Obama leading by a wider margin? Take a wild guess.

On the Cover: Illustration by Hank Willis Thomas. Photographs by Brooks Craft/Corbis (Michelle) and Soren McCarty/Wire Image (Barack).

Features

The Hudsons

They’re the hawks who stole Riverside Park’s heart. And then broke it.
His Magical Elixir

Dr. Alex Hughes thinks he can make you smarter, thinner, and less hungover by injecting water with ingredients he found in the hospital.

Columns

The Humor Deficit

McCain and Obama seem like funny guys, so why are their campaigns anything but?

Culture

Guiding Light

Ellen Wheeler hopes to save the daytime soap with a little reality and Jonathan Safran Foer?
Five to Watch, Rinse, and Repeat

Is there such a thing as overacting on soap operas? Believe it or not, yes.
The Movie Review

Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t just steal Tropic’s thunder, he owns it.
Trailer Mix: Special Dark Nerd Edition

Our reviews of this week’s previews.
The Power of Bro: Danny McBride

Danny McBride is best known for his starring role in this year’s slapstick comedy The Foot Fist Way.
The Theater Review

The script’s full of navel-gazing; the production drags. Yet Hair still exerts a joyous pull.
Tickle Me Cool J

The 39th season of Sesame Street is surprisingly well stocked with quirky guest stars
The Approval Matrix: Week of August 18, 2008

Our deliberately oversimplified guide to who falls where on our taste hierarchies.

Intelligencer

Asner vs. Cheney in NYC 9/11 Commission

Activists hope to reinvestigate with city’s help.
Just One Word: Bankruptcy!

Lawyering through the downturn.
Can China Control the Weather?

Weatherman Al wants to find out.
Pas Jolie for Time Inc.’s Wretches

Checkbook scoop “sad.”
Sticks & Stoners Break Actors’ Bones

Pineapple pain.
Gloria Gaynor Continues to Survive

She holds her head up high.
It Happened Last Week

Jets fans could be forgiven some giddiness at elderly quarterback Brett Favre’s arrival.
Jets Stream

Brett Favre is supposed to bring the Jets stability.
Lights Off on Broadway

Paging Starbucks and CVS! The Upper West Side faces a vacancy glut.
It’s a Green Gusher!

What are they drilling for on the Upper East Side?

Agenda

Birds Galore

A confluence of avian-themed events for kids and families spans the boroughs this week.
Kids Welcome

The Four Seasons has declared August 15 Children’s Day.

Strategist

So Plush and So Clean

Costume designer William Ivey Long is an expert at making public spaces cozy—and keeping them clean.
Manhattan: The New Brooklyn?

As the market hints at a downturn, Brooklyn brownstones sit unsold.
The Look Book

“I attract the crazy people. Also, people expose themselves to me.”
The Restaurant Review

Another day, another barnyard-minded locavore joint. Make that two more.
In Season

It’s not easy to make a name for yourself in the potato world.
Insatiable Critic

The crowd skews young at Delicatessen, a new comfort-food initiative from the folks at Cafeteria.
Restaurant Openings

Week of August 18, 2008: Apiary, Pita Joe, and Vintage Irving.
Trendlet: The New Kid on the Block

Long an outer-borough staple, the lowly goat is poised for the Manhattan big time.
Parallel Lives

He’s been here 58 years. She, barely one. They both love the Lower Lower East Side.

Departments

Comments: Week of August 18, 2008

Readers sound off on the Montauk Monster, “the new new face,” and more.
Artifact: Remains of the Night

Findings from the streets, files, and hard drives of New York.

Issue Contents

Table of Contents

August 18, 2008

The Impossible Conversation

Features

The Hudsons

His Magical Elixir

Columns

The Humor Deficit

Culture

Guiding Light

Five to Watch, Rinse, and Repeat

The Movie Review

Trailer Mix: Special Dark Nerd Edition

The Power of Bro: Danny McBride

The Theater Review

Tickle Me Cool J

The Approval Matrix: Week of August 18, 2008

Intelligencer

Asner vs. Cheney in NYC 9/11 Commission

Just One Word: Bankruptcy!

Can China Control the Weather?

Pas Jolie for Time Inc.’s Wretches

Sticks & Stoners Break Actors’ Bones

Gloria Gaynor Continues to Survive

It Happened Last Week

Jets Stream

Lights Off on Broadway

It’s a Green Gusher!

Agenda

Birds Galore

Kids Welcome

Strategist

So Plush and So Clean

Manhattan: The New Brooklyn?

The Look Book

The Restaurant Review

In Season

Insatiable Critic

Restaurant Openings

Trendlet: The New Kid on the Block

Parallel Lives

Departments

Comments: Week of August 18, 2008

Artifact: Remains of the Night

Latest Issues