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Economy gives couples the wedding bell blues
Brenda Turnage, 22, of Spring City, PA tries on a dress at Kleinfeld, 110 W 20 St, for her wedding next April. Asked if she was cutting costs because of the recession, she replied, "I was already going to be on a budget." (Photo by Andrew Hinderaker)
Here comes the bride, all dressed in — catering bills, cake fees, credit card charges.
The economy has cast a long shadow on the start of the wedding season, with nervous couples cutting guest lists, haggling for discounted gowns or postponing the date until fortunes brighten.
“They are more timid about everything,” said Mark Ingram, owner of a couture bridal store in Turtle Bay, which slashed prices by 80 percent last month to move stale merchandise. “It's no surprise. The economy is in the toilet.”
Corporate layoffs have especially fueled a downturn in the wedding industry in New York. JoAnn Gregoli, a Park Avenue bridal consultant, said clients are cutting the price of their lavish weddings in half from $200,000.
“The wedding industry is deeply affected by Wall Street,” Gregoli said. “I have three weddings that are literally on hold.”Spending on weddings nationally remained flat between 2007 and 2008, averaging nearly $24,000, according to a survey by the Knot, a media company tracking marriage. But New Yorkers cut their budgets by $3,000 last year.
Jeremy Berger, a Brooklyn commercial producer, spent months planning a $25,000 wedding for 150, but he and his fiancé got nervous about paying a $300 cake-cutting fee and $50 for an hour of drinks per guest.
“We were cutting every single corner we could,” said Berger, 32. “But the bar situation was killing us.”
With heavy hearts, the couple decided to bag the big bash for a gathering of 50 at a favorite French restaurant. They slashed 80 percent off their budget by christening an iPod as the DJ, making their own boutonnieres and serving cupcakes instead of three-tiered confectionery.
The number of New York couples holding formal or black-tie weddings was down slightly last year, the Knot survey found. Nationally, couples also stayed engaged for months longer in 2008, the survey found.
“(Couples) are pushing their wedding dates back further and further,” Gregoli said.
As budgets tighten, New York couples have increasingly looked to renegotiate their contracts and hunt for bargains.
“Everybody is shopping, more so than ever before,” said B. Allan Kurtz, managing director of Gotham Hall in midtown. “I can bend, but I can't break.”
Since the slowdown, one high-end New Jersey bridal store went bankrupt, leaving a handful of city brides stranded without their dresses. And some New York City seamstresses and sales people have joined the unemployment lines.
“It's affecting us all,” said Angelika Moiodk, 32, a Greenpoint tailor who recently lost her work fitting mother-of-the-bride dresses.
Still, marriage isn't dead, and established wedding merchants are surviving by peddling package deals - like a “wedding in a box” offered by one Manhattan florist. Modest affairs imbued with meaning have gained vogue.
Berger said that downsizing his big day allowed him to make it more personal.
“I'd rather feed 10 people caviar than 100 people pizza,” he said.
Ideas to trim your wedding costs:
- Limit the hours of the open bar
- Opt for local, seasonal flowers, or share the arrangements with other couples getting married at the same venue
- Look for a smaller band, switch to a DJ, or ask friends to load up their iPods
- Bag the buffet for a set meal
- Book the photographer for an hourly rate and assemble your own album
(HEATHER HADDON)
Tags: weddings, new york city, economy
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Still 'Crazy' after all these years
By Rolando Pujol
A subway ad we ran across recently for J&R Music World offers a who's who of once-famous New York electronic chain stores that have bitten the dust.
The J&R ad reminds us that the lower Manhattan store has been around since 1971, and in the years since has been "Crazier than Eddie," "Towering over Tower," and "Beating the Wiz." Tower Records is long gone, and the Wiz, which promised that nobody could beat its prices, also sleeps with the fishes.
But if there's one defunct electronics chain that really revs up the nostalgia engines, and non-native New Yorkers inevitably learn about if they stick around here long enough, it's Crazy Eddie.
For decades, actor Jerry Carroll appeared on the New York airwaves playing Crazy Eddie, a character who animatedly and breathlessly hawked deals on reel-to-reel recorders, eight-track tapes and Beta VCRs.
Yes, it's been a long time since Crazy Eddie existed, but all you have to say to any New Yorker over the age 30 is "Crazy Eddie, his prices are insane" and soon they're talking about the Ritz Thrift Shop, the Money Store and other classic NYC commercials.
Anyway, Crazy Eddie went belly up in 1989, and its founder, Eddie Antar, fled the country after some shady business dealings and eventually landed in jail.
But, believe it or not, J&R may soon be competing with Crazy Eddie again. Someone's actually working to bring the chain back to life, and if that weren't enough, Danny DeVito is said to be directing a movie about the real Crazy Eddie. Now that's positively insane.
Tags: crazy eddie, j&r, tower records, the wiz, electronics stores, television, old school, advertising
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A six-figure job without a B.A.
Special to amNewYork
Court reporting requires just an associate’s degree for a well-paying, flexible, diverse career.
What court reporters do
These pros sit front-and-center in trials, hearings and legal depositions, capturing every word on steno computers. “Court reporters are the legal community’s eyes and ears,” says Marshall Jorpeland of the National Court Reporters Association.
Court reporters may be employed by a court or city agency, or get freelance work through an agency. About a quarter work outside the legal system on their own schedules, furnishing closed captioning for TV or “real time” transcription of corporate meetings or classes for the hearing-impaired. “Every day is different,” says Jorpeland.How court reporters get trained
The job requires a specialized associate’s degree from a technical school or community college. New York Career Institute (NYCI) grants the five boroughs’ only associates in court reporting; Queens College offers a continuing-ed certificate program. The field attracts many career-changers.
What court reporters need
“The job demands language skills, concentration and manual dexterity,” says Jorpeland. “Perfectionism helps, because accuracy is key. And you must be reliable and confidential.”
What’s cool about this field
Court reporters right out of school earn $40-$50,000, more with city agencies and courts. Passing the Civil Service exam after two years hikes salary about another 15K. Freelance real-time transcription pays $80-$90 an hour. “Court reporters can boost their incomes considerably by selling copies of their court transcriptions,” notes Oscar Garzon, chair of NYCi’s program. “Six-figure court reporters are not unusual.”
Opportunities are ample because captioning is growing; litigation is constant; and an older generation of court reporters are retiring. Says Garzon, himself a court reporter who emigrated from Ecuador, “This career has been my American dream.”
Job snapshot: Court Reporter
Salary range: 40K-120K
Skills: Language, concentration, typing
Education: Associate’s degree or certificate program
Schools: NYCI: nyci.edu; Queens College: www.cep.qc.edu/Online/Court.htm
Forecast: Excellent; closed-captioning is a growth sector
Learn more: bestfuture.com; bls.gov/oco/ocos152.htm
Tags: court reporting, court reporter, court stenographer, high-paying jobs, job front
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This week's New York City job fairs and events
Get the business cards ready: This week is full of job fairs and networking events.
Tuesday (April 14) — New York Career Fair
Location: Radisson Martinique on Broadway Hotel, 49 West 32nd St.
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
To register: Free registration at NationalCareerFairs.com
Thursday (April 16) — National Society for Hispanic Professionals Job Fair
Location: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St.
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
To register: Free registration at NSHP.orgThursday (April 16) — Advertising Women of New York Networking Clinic: “What’s your next move? Transferring your skill set”
Location: Time, Inc., 1271 Avenue of the Americas at 51st St. btwn Sixth and Seventh aves.
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
To register: Tickets $10 (members), $25 (guests) RSVP at awny.org/EventsCalendar.html or 212-221-7969. Speaker: Maggie Mistal – career consultant, CNN contributor, and Sirius/XM Radio Host
Thursday (April 16) —The LatinVision Hispanic Business Networking Event
Location: Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk St.
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
To register: $30, contact Carlos Vassallo 646-519-245
Thursday (April 16) — Graphic Artists Guild’s Cold Calling for Artists
Location: Pratt Institute (Manhattan Campus), 144 W. 14th St., Room 213
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
To register: $10 (students/seniors), $15 (members), $25 (nonmembers), pre-registration recommended, 212-791-3400 ext. 11 or ny@gag.org
Saturday (April 18) — Career Fair and Women’s Empowerment Affair
Location: Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton St., Brooklyn
Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
To register: For more information call 718-974-6969 or HarnessTheOprahInYouSeries.com
Tags: job fairs, career fairs, new york job fairs, new jobs, looking for work, job posting
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Study: Married couples with kids less happy
A woman and four children make their way across Greenwich Ave in Tribeca on Thursday. (Photo by RJ Mickelson/amNY)
Marital bliss isn’t child’s play.
Couples are less likely to find happiness ever after if they have children, especially right after tying the knot, according to a new study.
The eight-year survey of 218 couples found that children brought on a sudden case of the relationship blues, with about 90 percent of mothers and fathers feeling dissatisfied with their partner after the birth of a child, according to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
“The first three or four months are like baby boot camp,” said Anna Grossman, a married mother with two young children living in lower Manhattan. “There's no doubt it does change the dynamic of a marriage.”
Psychologists say that the combination of sleeplessness and new parental responsibilities tend to suck the energy out of maintaining a healthy relationship. Couples often stop communicating or regularly acting affectionate.“Sex almost ceases to exist,” said Diana Kirschner, a therapist from Manhattan. “All their attention goes to the child.”
The couples who remained childless during the eight-year period experienced a gradual decline in their marital satisfaction, the study found. But couples who did have children saw a spike in problems such as poor communication and a crisis of faith in the marriage.
Many New York parents disagreed that kids had killed their marriage.
“It puts a stress on your life and marriage, but it’s a good stress,” said Lisa Karic, 41, of Staten Island.
Dissatisfaction was more pronounced among spouses who had a child soon after their marriage, along with parents with girl children. Female babies tend to make fathers more distant, according to researchers.
Still, babies aren't always a downer. Spouses with higher-incomes or those who had been married longer tended to find children strengthened their relationship.
“It's a blessing,” said Bettina McCall, 47, a Chelsea mother of two who was married for years before having children. “Once we had kids, it was like heaven.”
Family stress tends to ease up among couples who began their marriage with a solid foundation, psychologists say.
“Those who have a good relationship to begin with will find a way to negotiate [parenthood],” said Arthur Kovacs, a family psychologist from Los Angeles.
Psychologists advise new parents to take time out as a pair, even if it means forking over money for a babysitter. Grossman, who helped found a parenting group in lower Manhattan, said forming relationships with other new mothers took strain off her marriage.
“We all go through this,” said Grossman, whose group has 1,100 members. “To know you're not alone is helpful.”
Jason Fink and Casey Feldman contributed to this report
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Babies weigh on married bliss
A study of 132 couples who had children within eight years of their marriage found:
- 100 percent of couples did not communicate well with their spouse
- 91 percent of women had trouble managing conflict with their husband
- 82 percent of men noticed they were less dedicated to their marriage
- 67 percent of women experienced less confidence in the future of their marriage
Source: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Tags: parenting, marriage, new york city, health
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Throwback Thursday: Classic Easter commercials
From the Urbanite archives: We're easy marks for holiday sentimentalism on Urbanite, so when Easter comes around, we expect to turn on the tube and get some retro comfort. Here's a look at some of the holiday goodies Urbanite craves:
1.) That M&M ad 'Thank you Easter Bunny'
This commercial for M&Ms is warmly remembered as the "Thank you Easter Bunny" campaign. A veritable United Nations of adorable tots thanks the Easter Bunny for those delicious treats that melt in your mouth, not in your hands. A classic jingle and old-fashioned emotional manipulation make for a dependable nostalgia inducer.
2.) The bunny Cadbury's Creme Eggs commercial
The gravely avuncular pipes of Mason Adams provide the warm and fuzzy narration for this commercial. The adorable little bunny clucks like a chicken (these are eggs, after all.) Mr. Adams, one of the most prolific commercial voice-over artists of the 20th century, gently reminds us to buy those eggs ASAP: "Why, they're the best thing to come along since the Easter Bunny, and when he's gone, they're gone."
3.) Dudley Rabbit shills for egg-painting kits
The first ad, from 1984, features a goofy rabbit telling us of four exciting ways to paint eggs, including the classic "Shake-an-Egg"and "Dip-an-Egg." Dudley's instructions for dipping: "Just mix my coloring crystals with water. Dunk a hard-boiled egg. And look at the snazzy eggs you can make!" I can still smell the vinegar now! The second ad is just for "Shake-an-Egg," and dates to 1982.
4.) "The Ten Commandments" on ABC
Here's a promo, voiced by the great Ernie Anderson (of "The Loooove Boat" fame), for a batch of ABC shows, including the 1981 presentation of "The Ten Commandments." Some traditions die hard: ABC once again trots out "The Ten Commandments" Saturday.
-- Rolando Pujol
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Viral video: How do you score that?
This boxer gets a taste of his own medicine when his uppercut misses its target and lands on his face.
Tags: viral video, television, boxing, sports
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Help the Food Bank for NYC name its new blog
Everyone from students to celebrities are social networking, so why not charities as well?
The Food Bank for New York City, which already has 1,500 Facebook friends and a YouTube channel, has launched a new blog, where New Yorkers can get both news on what the organization is doing and other tidbits about the city.
However, they can use your help. The Food Bank, which has partnered with amNY in the past on charity events, wants users to pick a name of its blog. The finalists are:
• Bank on It
• Bite by Byte
• The Digital Dish
• Edible Updates
• Fresh Picked
You can vote here.
Serving the five boroughs, the Food Bank For New York City helps to provide 300,000 free meals every day.
— Pete Catapano
Food Bank workers unload food from a truck. (photo courtesy Food Bank of New York City)
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New Yorkers boosting job prospects with surgery
Some unemployed New Yorkers are going a lot further than remaking their resumes to get work — they’re remaking their bodies.
Several New York plastic surgeons said they’ve seen a bump in business, largely from female executives or attorneys in their 40s or 50s who are competing with 20- or 30-year-olds who may appear more energetic.
“They want to look younger, and they want to look better and not look tired,” said Dr. Mauro Romita, a Manhattan plastic surgeon. “If you look older than you are and you look tired people may not think you can handle a busy schedule.”
While the cosmetic procedure industry has dived about 9 percent because of the economy, a recent survey showed that about 3 percent of women had work done to boost their perceived value at work. The survey, conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, showed that 73 percent of women believe that youthful looks are playing a larger part than ever on the job front.“Age is such a big thing when going for jobs now, especially because there’s more competition,” said Deborah, a 54-year-old recruiter in the fashion industry who has gotten liposuction and a facelift to remain competitive at work. “You really want to look energetic. In the apparel fashion world, that was definitely what was driving me.”
Some New York surgeons said they’ve seen increases as big as 40 percent in people looking to improve their looks for a job. Dr. Stephen Greenberg, a Manhattan plastic surgeon, even created a job tune-up package after seeing a bump in job-seeking patients.
He and other surgeons said that people looking for an edge in an interview tend to opt for less-invasive surgery, skin resurfacing procedures and injections such as Botox or fillers. People are also financing their procedures, seeing it as an investment, and while cost is a concern for the out of work, so is the recovery time.
“They want fast healing they want to get out into the job market as soon as they can.” said Dr. Lawrence S. Reed, a plastic surgeon whose seen the same trend during three economic downturns since the 70s.
However, career counselor Kate Wendleton said there are better ways to boost one’s luck in the job market. Looking younger or energetic can be as easy as wearing a sharp suit or gesturing during an interview, but she would not advise against a procedure if someone said they’ve always wanted to do it and now have the time.
“If you think it will refresh you, like a two week vacation in Aruba, then go ahead and do it, she said. “Don’t think now all the doors will open for me.”
(Photo: Jefferson Siegel)
Tags: plastic surgery, face lift, botox, new york, economy, science
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Obama chicken remains despite bashing by Bloomberg
The Obama Fried Chicken flap has become a cockfight.
The management of the Brownsville chicken joint doggedly refuses to change the restaurant’s name, despite mounting criticism, the latest coming from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“We are standing firm,” said manager Mohammad Jabbar, as orders piled up for wings and fries yesterday. “So many customers are telling us not to change this, so what can we do?”
But activists say that the name is degrading to blacks, and the owner should switch it to Popular Fried Chicken, as he promised to last week.
“You’d think they could find a more appropriate name,” said Bloomberg, during a Bronx news conference yesterday about new environmental jobs in the city.Meanwhile, a White House spokeswoman reiterated that they have a longstanding policy discouraging the use of the president’s name by commercial establishments.
Obama gimmicks continue to surface, however. New York drugstores are in talks to carry a special edition Chia Obama pet that features a furry green Afro, according to reports. It has already been taken off shelves in Chicago and Tampa after some said they considered it racist.
On Saturday, activists plan to hold a second protest outside Obama Fried Chicken. The first demonstration was held Monday.
“This is not something that is going to go away lightly,” said Kevin McCall, head of Brooklyn East New York Crisis Team, an advocacy group that organized the protests.
Tags: obama fried chicken, brooklyn, bloomberg, politics
