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Small Talk

Small talk: Diamond rings at Costco, worst landlords in NYC

Marketplace Contributor Apr 8, 2011

Bob Moon: This final note today. A look back at the week’s news, specifically at the stories that didn’t quite make the headlines. Courtesy of Rico Gagliano, Brendan Francis Newnam and select members of the Marketplace staff.


Brendan Newnam: Adriene Hill, sustainability reporter for Marketplace. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?

Adriene Hill: Well retailers around the country are gussying up their dressing rooms to make it more comfortable to those of us who spend time there.

Newnam: So like wet bar, pedicure service?

Hill: Not quite, although it’d be awesome. No, right now they’re talking about doing things like improving the lighting, adding chandeliers. My question is, how far away are we from like, those mirrors that could make you look really thin and attractive?

Newnam: Again, I think this is a wet bar could come in handy.

Rico Gagliano: Stacey Vanek Smith, New York reporter. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?

Stacey Vanek Smith: Well Rico, here in New York on the Craigslist apartment listings, there’s a new link for Worst New York City Landlords.

Gagliano: Really?

Vanek Smith: Oh yeah, it has an interactive map, and it shows you where the landlords are and it’s the landlords who’ve had the most violations.

Gagliano: So is the entire map just blood red? With all the bazillions of landlords?

Vanek Smith: I’m telling you, there are no lack of bad landlords. And my theory is that this is going to be the new favorite website for cockroaches.

Gagliano: They’re all emailing each other, like “Party at 5th and Broadway!”

Newnam: Matt Berger, senior web developer for Marketplace. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?

Matt Berger: Well the wholesale retailer Costco is getting into the diamond business.

Newnam: Like the gumball machine-fake diamond ring business?

Berger: No, they’re selling real diamond rings. They just announced that they have a $1 million ring for sale. And true to form, it’s actually worth $1.6 million; you’re just getting it at a discount, because it’s Costco.

Newnam: That’s incredible.

Berger: Yeah, but who’s going to go to Costco to buy a diamond ring?

Newnam: Probably someone like Larry King, who needs to buy in bulk.


Moon: You can hear more of what Brendan and Rico are serving up on their podcast. It’s called the Dinner Party Download.

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