Death of the Arts

More likely the opposite. Artists have been getting priced out of NYC for the last 25 years.

Have you really noticed a slow down in restaurants yet, because I haven't. I hear talk of plays closing but the one's I have attended lately are full. Maybe they are half price tickets, who knows. I keep hearing about a decline, but honestly, I really haven't felt it yet. My husband and I chuckle to one another as we wait 45 minutes for our dinner reservation because the restaurant that we had to book three weeks in advance is so busy, "So this is what a recession looks like!"

Newbie, couldn't agree with you more. You would think after reading this board that tumbleweeds are blowing through the city. I had a "NY weekend" over the last couple days and everyone was out in full force. I think there is a lot of wishful thinking and scare tactics on this board. Quite humorous actually.

Newbie: what restaurants have you been frequenting? There is a meltdown out there in restaurant revenues, although I will say that for lower priced, established places, the dropoff is modest. People who live here will always want to go out, they just dont want to spend much $. The middle to high end is dying

I eat out a lot. From neighborhood joints like Rare in GV, to much higher end places. Can't say what business is like for them, but I tell you I LOVE what the recession has done in terms of service! It is suddenly like I'm a visiting head of state no matter what type of restaurant I walk into. Too bad it takes a recession to snap the snobbery out of service personnel.

I work at a large NY art museum. Some would argue that cultural establishments will become havens during stormy economic times. Many of the museums are stressing the multiple experiences you can have for one low admission price (at least lower in comparison to many theatre, opera, dance and symphony tickets). For under $20, one can spend an entire day getting lost in the artwork, going to a lecture, seeing a film, eating well, as well as relaxing and socializing in the public spaces. FWIW, my workplace has exceeded its visitor numbers thus far in 2009. No one knows what the rest of the year will look like, but visitors have definitely not jumped off a cliff.

OP, I think what you are getting at is the live / work culture for artists in NY. I tend to think that the city will become more hospitable as daily living expenses decrease and the lavish money culture recedes. It's a very different topic than how cultural establishments are faring.

ten years ago the east village, among other areas, always had small galleries showcasing unknown artists and it would be wonderful if a new wave of artists could create and show their work in Manhattan the way it used to be before it was overtaken by wall street money men.

i've experienced the same thing as newbie regarding restaurants. I don't go to high end places that often but they are still crowded...but let's face it there's a lot of money in manhattan and will always be that way but the difference is there will be less people with lots of money!!