••• At Greenwich Grill the other night, I was surprised to see sangria on the drinks menu. I was even more surprised to see its ingredients listed as “red wine, whiskey, brandy, cointreau, and cinnamon.” I mentioned my surprised to the bartender, who gave me a taste. It was pretty good! Although potentially lethal.

••• I checked in with Corton chef Paul Liebrandt to see when his cookbook is coming out—he said next spring.

••• Cercle Rouge has begun serving breakfast on weekdays (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.).

••• I didn’t manage to make it to Baby’s First Trade Show the Tribeca Family Festival, but I did get a kick out of this vendor on my way to Greenwich Grill. Childhood ain’t as easy as it used to be.

The rules: Answer as many of the 47 questions as you like (but a minimum of 15, and you must answer #1–4). Please limit most answers to the general geographic area.

1. How long have you lived in the area? Where did you move from? Where are you originally from? I moved to Tribeca in July 2011 and I don’t know what took me so long. I moved from Midtown (Theater District, a.k.a. Tourist Central) where I lived for two years and a half. I loved it at first because I was in the middle of it all, but I had no neighborhood life and I had to fight my way through hordes of tourists every day. I’m from Montreal originally so my first language is French. Work brought me to New York, it was my dream to live here and I plan to stay for a very long time.

2. Married? Partnered? If so, what’s his/her name and occupation? No, single.

3. Kids? Pets? No kids, no pets, one plant.

4. Where do you live? I’m on Greenwich Street South.

5. What do you do for a living? I’m a multimedia news correspondent for a Canadian conglomerate called Quebecor. I write articles in French and English, I blog, I do live TV, I take pictures, shoot and edit short videos for the web. I’m also pretty active on social media. I report on any big story happening here that might interest Canada. Let’s just say work keeps me busy but I don’t count the hours. I just love my job and I get to do it in the best city in the world. Being a reporter here is the ultimate passport. It opens every door, you get to meet amazing people and every day is different.

7. Most-frequented restaurants: Takahachi, Bar Pitti on Sixth Avenue, and Souen on Sixth Avenue.

8. For special occasions, I go to: Locanda Verde, Sushi Azabu in the basement of Greenwich Grill, or Nobu.

9. Best sandwich: The triple-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwich at Wichcraft. They already know what I want the minute I step in.

10. Sweet-tooth satisfaction: Frozen yogurt from Yorganic.

11. Most delicious cocktail: I don’t like cocktails, I prefer wine or bubbles. I love going for a glass at Tiny’s or El Jockey, the new lounge in the basement of Super Linda. Very cool decor and atmosphere. If it’s hockey night (hey, I’m Canadian), I go to Warren 77.

12. I usually order in from Takahachi, and I always order the soba salad.

13. I can’t resist popping into: Balloon Saloon for no reason. This store is the happiest place around. The owner puts a different balloon arch above the sidewalk every other day. It makes me smile every time and I can’t resist to Instagram-it.

15. When I walk into my apartment, the first thing I see that I bought around here is: Bodega flowers from Morgans Market on Hudson Street.

17. How I stay fit: Running by the Hudson River and yoga classes.

18. Where I get beautiful: SoHo Nails on West Broadway for mani/pedi and Kevin my hair guy on Canal Street (Mian Tian Sing Salon) who does the best blow-dries for less than $15. When I’m Uptown: Spa Clarins on Madison (for facial and body treatment).

19. What’s the area’s best-kept secret? The Cosmopolitan Café‘s secret room. Craig Bero, the owner, knows everything about the history of Tribeca. I could listen to him all day. He built a secret room at the back of his restaurant filled with artifacts from the neighborhood. You feel like time has stopped when you step in. A must-see. [Below: A video tour by Marie-Joelle.] [Update: Craig emailed to say that "The backroom is now open for service for brunch and lunch with our selection of crepes."]

20. A recent enthusiasm: The cherry-tree blossom season.

21. A worthy splurge: A vintage bike from Adeline Adeline on Reade Street.

22. A recent case of sticker shock: The price of a latte at Kaffe 1668 and fruits at Whole Foods.

24. Rainy-day activity: Movies at the Regal Battery Park and a spa.

27. I’ve never been to Bubby’s, and I don’t know why.

29. How does A Uno clothing store on West Broadway stay in business?

30. I tend to take out-of-towners to: the Greenwich Hotel. This place is a gem. It’s the equivalent to L.A.’s Château Marmont. The interior garden, the spa [right], and the pool in the basement are the best-kept secrets in town.

31. I wish I lived at One Hudson Street.

32. My very favorite spot: The little park at Staple Street and Duane Street. I grab a coffee at the Laughing Man (hoping to one day bump into Hugh Jackman) and I walk around the area.

33. Pet peeve: The neverending construction on Chambers Street. The rat-party at the corner of Beach and W. Broadway, and the piles of garbage bags as tall as me. I also hate noisy motorcycles, people who throw stuff on the ground (I always run after them saying: “Hey you just dropped something”) and soft hand-shakers.

34. If money were no object, I’d buy a loft with a rooftop in the neighborhood, hire a private trainer, have healthy meals delivered, and fly my Montreal friends down to New York every weekend.

36. My most memorable celebrity sighting: David Bowie and Iman sitting next to me at Indochine. Jay-Z at some nightclub lip-syncing to “Empire State of Mind” when the song just came out. I have so many sightings that they all melt together. Ryan Gosling saying to a Barista at Everyman about his latte: “It’s like watching a unicorn being born” is also memorable.

37: A local celebrity I’d like to run into: Robert DeNiro.

38. The most romantic spot around: A stroll in Battery Park beneath the weeping willows with the view on the Statue of Liberty.

39. Tribeca could use more free-wi-fi-laptop-friendly cafés and cabs and fewer water bugs.

40. If I could change one thing about the neighborhood: Cleaner streets and more cabs please.

41. A business I’d like to have here: Trader Joe’s!

42. My best Tribeca story: I was exchanging tweets with a guy for months when I saw his name on one of the New York Times in the lobby. We lived in the same building without knowing. Small world.

44. Someone who lives here who I really think you should meet: Eddie, my jewelry guy is straight out of a Seinfeld episode. (S H Palace Jewelry on Chambers).

46. If I couldn’t live here, I’d live near Horatio Street in the West Village.

Recent TCQ&As:
• Zak Profera
• Joya Dass
• George Carroll
• Dana Mass
• Stephen Dimmick

If you want to suggest a TCQ&A subject (it can even be yourself), email tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

••• The paper came off the windows at the storefront on the southwest corner of Harrison and Staple today, and the windows were washed. Is it finally turning into something?

••• From Torly Kid: “Calling all Torly girls ages 7-10: The folks at HBO just stopped in to post about a casting call on Sunday 10–5 p.m. at Shelter Studios for an HBO television pilot based on the book The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Need more info? Email us or pop into store for a flyer.”

••• My friendly little survey is very close to having the number of recipients I was aiming for—so if you haven’t filled it out, please do, so I can stop pestering everyone about it.

••• I went to Greenwich Grill for lunch today—its $12 three-course prix-fixe lunch (for pasta as the main; meat costs you $18) is an amazing deal, even if they swap out cloth napkins for paper. I’m a snob! You knew that! But what I was most charmed by was the frequent luncher card: Buy 10 lunches over $10 and you get one prix-fixe lunch free.

••• From 83 Franklin’s Facebook page: “Tune in tonight to Selling New York/HGTV at 10:30 E/P. The show follows Doron Zwickel during a three month period as he prepares for the launch of 83 Franklin.” If you see a weird guy skulking around an open-house party, it was me.

UPDATE: I’m told that “Italian without borders” referred to borders within Italy.

Ristorante Aglio is at 277 Church (between White and Franklin), 212-343-0277; ristoranteaglio.com.

P.S. When you go to Ristorante Aglio—and you should!—share your thoughts on its page in the Tribeca Citizen Restaurant Guide.

Recent New Kid on the Block articles:
• Kutsher’s Tribeca
• Artsee
• Tribeca Tap House
• Cheryl McGinnis Gallery
• François Payard Bakery
• Laughing Man Marketplace
• JEM Café
• Lolë

The rules: Participants can choose which of 40-odd questions they’d like to answer, but they have to answer numbers one through four (and at least 12 total).

1. How long have you lived in the area? Where did you move from? Where are you originally from? Originally from Michigan. Moved to New York 24 Years ago. Stella Digital’s office has been in Tribeca for the last 9 years. I moved down to Tribeca from NoHo two years ago so I could walk to work.

2. Married? Partnered? If so, what’s his/her name and occupation? Not married.

3. Kids? Pets? Two girls, 8 and 4 years old.

4. Where do you live? BPC—great for kids!

5. The best deal around: Not really Tribeca but close—Staten Island ferry! Great to get out on the water—get someone you like to be with, good sushi and some beer and take a sunset cruise past the the Statue of Liberty, etc. then come back to NYC. Nice ride and it’s free. (I haven’t done this since college but I remember it being fun.)

6. My most-frequented restaurants: Nobody takes better care of me than the Odeon. I also like Marc Forgione, Greenwich Grill, Blaue Gans, the Harrison….

7. For special occasions, I go to: Marc Forgione is good—but then so is that Palm at Walker’s [see #10]….

8. Best sandwich: Columbine [now Café Clementine], Grandaisy Bakery, and Mangez Avec Moi all make good sandwiches—but one of the best sandwiches on the earth is the BLT at the Odeon.

10. Most delicious cocktail: The Russian Caravan at Brandy Library is really good but that place is a bit stuffy—there are also good cocktails at Smith & Mills. The best might be a cold Palm beer poured by my friend John at Walker’s.

16. How I stay fit: I used to go to Peter Anthony. It’s really a great place to get in shape! I just got too busy to make it there. If I find some more time I’ll definitely go back.

17. Where I get beautiful: Well, I do own a retouching company….

18. What’s the area’s best-kept secret? Wouldn’t be a secret if we told….

20. A worthy splurge: Wine! Chambers Street Wines and Tribeca Wine Merchants [left] are great.

21. A recent case of sticker shock: [Please avoid real estate.] The frickin’ parking garage. It’s a little annoying to pay a small rent to park one’s car.

23. Rainy-day activity: Swimming with the kids at the Downtown Community Center!

25. Kids’ classes you’d recommend: Downtown Dance Factory is great!

33. If money were no object, I’d…. I have a friend (and Tribecan) involved with an amazing charity called Edible School Yard. I would like to see all the schools here put gardens in like they’ve done at P.S. 216. If money were no object, I’d make it happen.

39. If I could change one thing about the neighborhood: Tribeca could really use a great Mexican place. I won’t name the one or two we have but let’s just say, they’re not up to par.”

45. If I couldn’t live here, I’d live in…. Argentina.

If you’d like to do the TCQ&A—or you want to recommend someone—email tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

Recent TCQ&As:
• Dan Kohn

Located at 277 Church, TriBeCafe was a half-sister to Greenwich Grill.

“Yes, it is a sudden change, given that we just launched a new menu,” emailed Yoko Izu, who handles PR, marketing and events for the restaurants. “But, we’re excited about the new restaurant that is in the works and think it will be a great addition to the little Restaurant Row that’s forming on Church Street.” Looking forward to it! Although Reboot Row might be a better name, seeing how White & Church (née Il Matto) and Stuzzicheria have both undergone recent reinventions and the Matsugen space is in a big question mark.

••• Added to the calendar: Nili Lotan is having a sample sale on Monday, Apr. 7, and Tuesday, Apr. 8 (noon to 7 p.m. both days). Spring merch 75% off.

••• Also: Japanese mothers who live in the area are throwing a benefit for Save the Children—Japanese Earthquake Tsunami Relief on Sunday, Apr. 10, at the Downtown Community Center. For information on attending or donating goods and/or services, click the link above.

••• Terrace Fish & Chips on Church has closed. When it opened, I remember telling my partner all excitedly that we’d have to try it. I had just moved from the West Village; I lived near Salt and Battery or whatever that fancy-ish fish-and-chips place on Greenwich is called. He just rolled his eyes.

••• The coming-soon Agatha Ruiz de la Prada store at Greenwich and Watts has signage.

••• I only just learned that Greenwich Grill has what may be the best lunch deal around: $12 for a choice of four appetizers, a choice of four pastas (one is a risotto), the dessert of the day, and coffee, tea, or espresso. Or you can choose one of four entrées for $18.

••• Shake Shack Battery Park City is hiring “for a May opening.”

••• I got all excited when I saw the green buds on this tree on Vestry/Laight—you know, that bend next to the Holland Tunnel offramp. But then I saw that the trees on Trimble, next to Tribeca Tower, are really about to blossom (see below—it was breezy so I couldn’t get my camera to focus).

••• From Steven Alan: “Help us support the people of Japan. We will donate 15% of all sales made between March 14-17 to the International Medical Corps.”

••• From Terroir: “Offering Yoshi’s Fried Chicken Japanese Style (YFC) at both Terroirs starting Wednesday P.M. All $ to Japanese Relief.”

••• From Mehtaphor: “On Wednesday, March 16, all proceeds of sales for reservations made between 6pm and 8pm will be donated to the Red Cross to aid in relief efforts for the earthquake/tsunami.”

••• From Trattoria Cinque: “To celebrate the milestone [150th anniversary of] Italian unification, Trattoria Cinque will offer a complimentary glass of Prosecco to any customer dining with us that will mention this email on Wednesday, March 17th, 2011.”

••• From Stuzzicheria: “March 18–20, in honor of La Festa di San Guiseppe (Saint Joseph’s Day, March 19), dinner tables will receive a complimentary order of  Zeppole di San Guiseppe (St Joseph’s Fritters) to celebrate one of the most festive and popular feasts in Southern Italy.”

••• From Sweet Lily Natural Nail Spa: “Beginning this Friday, March 18th, we’ll be serving complimentary white wine with all of its treatments. (Available 4pm to closing daily.)”

••• Mark your calendars: Shoe designer Matt Bernson‘s annual sample sale will be April 30 and May 1 at 450 Greenwich; times TBD in early April (will post them then).

••• Tweeted by @NYCdowntowndiva: “Red Mango frozen yogurt and smoothie shop opening on Fulton between William and Nassau… hopefully just in time for summer!”

••• “You’ll have dreaming about that sandwich,” predicted the bartender yesterday at Ponte’s about the Angry Lobster roll—the restaurant’s famous lobster (cooked with garlic, red pepper flakes, and basil) on a roll made from Ponte’s pizza dough. She was so right!

••• In the summer promotion from American Express and NYC & Co. (the city’s tourism arm), you can double American Express Membership Rewards points if you register your card at nycgo.com/getmorenyc and then shop (between July 1 to September 5) at 92YTribeca, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bridge Café, Capsouto Frères, Centrico, Century 21, Greenwich Grill, J&R, Nobu, Next Door Nobu, The Palm, Ponte’s, Sushi Azabu, Thalassa, Tribeca Grill (and other spots around the city). I still don’t get the point of registering. It’s not like Amex doesn’t keep track of where you’re spending money—and couldn’t just hand that info over to NYC & Co.

••• “Friends, colleagues and collaborators” will gather to celebrate Alex Chilton on July 28 at City Winery. And on July 23, 25, and 30, the venue will host benefit concerts to aid the region affected by the BP spill. And on Tuesdays from June 29 to August 10, City Winery will host the second-annual Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival, with food from Great Performances, in the parking lot behind the winery (enter on Spring).

••• On July 1, at the Access Theater, Blue Coyote is presenting a reading of Reasons for Moving, a play by Matthew Freeman: “two neighbors hatch an unlikely plan to escape a seemingly menacing stranger.” It’s free but you have to RSVP at bluecoyote@bluecoyote.org.