500 Steps with Alan

WELCOME

Welcome to “500 Steps On-Line”!  The concept: I only write about things within 500 steps of our block, as measured by my pedometer (giant steps allowed).  Thanks to my neighbor, Marcy Davis, for giving me the idea.

To view 500 Steps with Alan archives, click here.

Jessie vs. Jesse

The Horror!

I try not to be too pedantic in my reading of local signage.  I fully expect that apostrophes will be wrongly placed, quotation marks used for no reason at all, “judgment” spelled “judgement.”

And when Jessie’s on 7th Ave. between 12th & 13th took over Whitney Chemists space and hung a banner over the former Whitney sign, and that banner spelled the name of the store “Jesse’s,” I really paid no mind: it seemed like a temporary sign, and I was sure they would sooner or later remove the banner, take down the Whitney sign, and put up a sign with their correct spelling (which I assume is the spelling painted on the window).  Well, it never happened, and I’m guessing it’s about 3 years now that Jessie’s has had that banner up.

Now, I don’t care whether the store is called “Jessie’s” or “Jesse’s.”  That’s their prerogative, although I would go with the “Jesse James” spelling.  But having both names on the storefront, as illustrated below, looks downright tawdry.  Jessie or Jesse: you must choose!  (However, with the closing of St. Vincent’s, the store will lose 80% of its business—my guess is that they will choose . . . to close.

Alan J. Jacobs–April 13, 2010

Salvation Army Temple

Going north, I found God’s Country:

The Salvation Army Centennial Memorial Temple : It’s right around the corner at 120 W. 14th St. We walk past it all the time, perceive something spectacular, but never go in. I called up our local emissary from the Salvation Army, Envoy Ian Anderson, and got an amazing tour, along with a dollop of Salvation Army history.

The Chapel is in an art deco style popular in the 20’s, also called “Ziggurat Moderne.” Originally the national headquarters, it is now headquarters for the New York region. Its name commemorates the centennial of the birth of Salvation Army founder William Booth. Its 1600-seat auditorium resembles a lovely old movie palace.

Envoy Anderson tells me that such a resemblance is intentional: the Army wanted to reach those who could not ordinarily be drawn into churches, so it often created theatrical events to entice sinners who then might be converted. So the building’s location on a block with three porn shops is appropriate: the more sinners in the vicinity, the better for the mission.

See this masterpiece for yourself at the “Christmas Extravaganza,” Sunday, December 14, at 6 p.m. Admission is free and Envoy Anderson says the music is terrific!