••• The “nun” that’s been spotted panhandling has been unmasked by the New York Post: “Mindy LeGrand, the habit-wearing panhandler who said she’s an Episcopal holy woman collecting money for an orphanage, was in fact raising money to pay back taxes for her family’s ‘church,’ relatives told The Post yesterday. ‘She’s not a nun. She’s sister Mindy,’ the Rev. Naconda LeGrand said of the woman The Post saw collecting cash in Little Italy. LeGrand—a convicted rapist who runs what the family describes as a Brooklyn parish founded by their convicted rapist/serial-killer father—admitted there is no orphanage. ‘Somebody made that up,’ said Quomenters LeGrand, another son of the founder.” I think it’s time for crazy Andrea Peyser to profile that family.

••• Restaurant Week has been extended through Labor Day. (Broadsheet Daily)

••• “It’s been a bumpy ride for Pier A [left], the landmark Hudson River pier at the junction of Battery Park City and historic Battery Park, that has been vacant for more than 20 years awaiting rehabilitation. In October 2008, the Battery Park City Authority signed a long-term lease with New York City’s Economic Development Corporation to restore the pier and find a suitable tenant. Last Tuesday, the BPCA board of directors discussed the latest setback in the pier’s troubled history —the Authority’s decision in April to terminate its contract with the phbCatalyst Group, the construction manager of the project, and the decision of McGowan Builders, the general contractor, to bow out. ‘It became apparent to us that phbCatalyst had put together a work plan and a set of resources that were not going to be sufficient to address the needs of this project as it progressed and as the activity increased,’ Gwen Anderson, the BPCA’s vice president of strategic planning, explained to the Board.” (Broadsheet Daily)

••• The New York Times review of the new album by Currensy—a Damon Dash protégé–quotes the following lyrics: “Tribeca at Bubby’s/I’m enjoying the lemon press/Not that Minute Maid/They squeeze these lemons theyself.” (The album is titled Pilot Talk but he really should’ve called it [sic].)

••• The New York Times looks at the recent loft law: “Although other elements of the law were modified over the years, those dates were never changed. So as wealthy people began discovering the light-flooded vertical palaces of Soho and Tribeca, pushing their prices into the stratosphere, the artists who began moving into old factories and warehouses in Brooklyn and Queens in the 1990s and later had no rights at all.”

Pier A

•••”Pier A, the last of the 19th-century piers that once lined the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan, will be getting a newly designed plaza in front built with money saved during recent structural work to stabilize the pier.” (Broadsheet Daily)

••• “J. Crew has collaborated with cult Japanese selvedge denim maker Warehouse on a line of premium denim inspired by the J. Crew Tribeca Men’s Shop at the Liquor Store. [...] The Lot 484 jean is named for the Liquor Store address (484 Broadway, get it?) and will retail for $300, both online and at the eponymous store location. These jeans are made completely out of Memphis grown cotton, which is then flown to Tokyo for a special weave and dye job. The jeans are pretty much ‘untreated’, so as J. Crew Head of Men’s Design Frank Muytjens says, ‘you have to do the work yourself. You have to wear it, but they fade really beautifully and quickly.’ Interesting concept. Also interesting is that the store will offer unique alterations services done with a ‘Union Special 43200 stitch machine’, which sounds very serious, as the machine was created specifically for altering denim.” (Racked)

••• South Steet Seaport owner General Growth Properties‘ plan to exit bankruptcy. (Downtown Express)

•••”Several hundred friends and relatives of Albert Capsouto packed Tribeca Rooftop Tuesday night to commemorate the neighborhood restaurateur and community leader.” (Downtown Express)

•••”New York Downtown Hospital is opening its doors to those who will have nowhere to go when St. Vincent’s Hospital closes. ‘We’re prepared to step up for the community,’ Sarah Jones, spokesperson for Downtown Hospital, said on Wednesday. ‘We consider St. Vincent’s catchment area to be our catchment area as well’” (Downtown Express)

A former film editor and owner of Klatch café (on Maiden Lane from 2003 to 2009), Pam Chmiel is now focused full-time on teaching teenagers business skills—from coming up with an idea to implementing it—with her not-for-profit Teen Entrepreneur Boot Camp. During the two-week program, the kids might open a pop-up café or help launch a handbag line, with guidance from businesspeople. In 2009, there were four boot camps; this year, there will be eight, and Chmiel is developing a classroom version—most likely on microfinancing and social entrepreneurship—that can be used year-round. For the next bootcamp, which starts March 29, she’s offering a full scholarship to one lucky student.  Anyone interested should contact her at pam@tebc.info. (Act fast!)

How long have you lived in Tribeca?
My husband and I moved to the neighborhood 15 years ago from Chelsea, and we’ve raised three children here.

Which restaurants do you frequent most often?
When the kids were younger we would frequent Walker’s and Petite Abeille because of their children’s menu. Sitting outdoors at Edward’s on Halloween became a tradition because it’s a great way to be in the middle of all the festivities—we were able to enjoy a great dinner and chat with neighbors, and our kids got freedom to trick-or-treat while we sat nearby. One of our new favorites is Cowgirl Sea-Horse down at the Seaport. Good food, good fun, reasonable prices.

Which restaurants do you tend to go to for special occasions?
I have spent more than one birthday celebration at the Odeon. I love their tuna burgers and filet mignon.

Where do you order in (or get take-out) from? Are there dishes you always order?
Pan Latin is my favorite gourmet take-out. I have cravings for the fish tacos and glazed salmon. Many times I have stopped by to pick up a few orders of chicken, rice, and black beans for the kids when they had after-school sports games and there was no time to prepare dinner. Once we grabbed take-out to sit in Hudson River Park for a screening of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Which shops do you find it hard to resist popping into when you pass by?
I was happy when Housing Works came to the neighborhood. I make an effort to support mom-and-pop businesses but I do like to shop at Century 21 for end of the season sales.

Tribeca Hardware

Are there any services (salon, fitness, etc.) that you’re particularly glad are in the neighborhood?
Sweet Lily nail salon is a treat because they use natural products and their shabby-chic décor makes you feel like you’re in someone’s country cottage. They sell unique and local products: I bought mascara that creates a cylinder around your eyelashes and just slips off when you wash with water—no more eye pad removers! Also, anyone can slap oatmeal paste on your face and call it a facial but the owner of Euphoria Spa is a licensed aesthetician. You feel like they know what they’re talking about.

Where do you always take out-of-towners?
We like to take walks over the Brooklyn Bridge to show off the spectacular view of New York Harbor. Once I took my niece to see a group of actors perform a Shakespeare play outdoors near Castle Clinton. It was cool because each scene changed locations around the park.

Pier A

Which neighborhood building do you wish you lived in and/or owned?
I wish I could renovate Pier A into a waterfront home.

What’s your favorite part of Tribeca (street, park, whatever)?
I love City Hall Park and its beautiful water fountain—I walk through there everyday. Unfortunately, it’s not around anymore, but I loved Pier 25 because it was such a fun, quirky spot with its volleyball nets, miniature golf, drop-in art, sculpture garden, and snack shack. Hudson River Park’s waterfront is beautiful to walk along, and my kids used to participate in a lot of the programs—like the gardening club, chess, art in the park, basketball, and board games—when they were younger.

Your most memorable Tribeca celebrity sighting?
I saw David Bowie sing near Castle Clinton after 9/11 and Debbie Harry perform in City Hall Park.

If you could change one thing about the neighborhood, what would it be?
I’d absolutely stop the overdevelopment in Battery Park City. It’s starting to look like LeFrak City.

What’s changed in Tribeca that you like? That you don’t?
Even though Whole Foods and Barnes & Noble are convenient to have in the neighborhood, I’m so sad to see the mom-and-pops disappearing. We’re losing our charm. It was all downhill when we lost Pier 25. I like all the new shops and restaurants on Front Street at the Seaport, although I hear they’re struggling to survive.

Why Tribeca?
It’s a history-rich area with a great mix of neighborhoods and style.

Previous TCQ&As:
• Jeff Tabak: “I’d Put the Sawdust Back on the Floor of Morgan’s”
• Kimberly Reed: “My Puppy Would Not Stop Sniffing Ed Burns”
• Hanne Larsen and Melanie Zrihen: “We Wrote Our Business Plan at Kaffe 1668”
• Christy Frank: “I Wish Tribeca Had a Really Great Cheese Shop”
• Carrie Loewenthal: “I Order the Kid-Size Pastas at Max”
• Cate Bruce-Low: “I Grilled Liev Schrieber”

IN THE NEWS

COMING UP
••• This Sunday at 2:30 p.m., the Museum of Jewish Heritage presents “A Fresh Take on Race and Cultural Identity,” a discussion between author Adam Mansbach (right) and cultural critic Joan Morgan (farther right) about race, cultural identity, and hip-hop in the Jewish and Black communities. The $5 admission includes entrance to “Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow” (Sunday is the last day of that exhibition).
••• On Monday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m., Tribeca Cinemas Doc Series will screen Dark Days (2000), which “shatters the myths of homelessness by revealing a thriving community living in tunnels beneath New York City.” Director Marc Singer will be in attendance.

(But first: If you live in Tribeca, think about signing up for Tribeca Citizen’s free twice-weekly newsletter. Look for the gray box to the right.)

It was a magical visit—right now, Pier A is one of those spaces you wish more people could see, especially in its current state. I’m sure it’ll be beautiful when completed, and the work was necessary, but the romantic in me loved looking at the layers of history. (Speaking of history: The last image is of the pier way back when, from a banner on the construction fence.)

Here are photos of the exterior and the first floor. I’ll post the upper floors in a second post.

(Reminder: The best way to keep up with Tribeca Citizen is to sign up for the twice-weekly newsletter. Look for the gray box to the right.)

IN THE NEWS
••• “Tribeca residents refusing to roll out the welcome wagon for a trashy new neighbor filed an appeal Wednesday against a judge’s decision to let the city build a sanitation garage and salt shed in the neighborhood.” (DNAinfo) Um, it’s not just Tribecans—in fact, it’s mostly Hudson Square residents….
••• SP’s Nuts and Candy on Church (bet. Chambers and Reade) might be the last nut roaster in town, says the New York Times. Noted in the article: The closing of the Bazzini store.
••• While shopping for blankets for the New York Times, interior designer Brad Ford checks out Stella.
••• Broadsheet Daily looks at the progress being made on Pier A.
••• The New York Post drops in on FiDi resident (and Blaue Gans restaurateur) Kurt Gutenbrunner, whose first cookbook is slated for publication in 2011.

courtesy Broadsheet Daily

COMING UP
••• To protest the possibility that the 9/11 “terror trials” would be held in lower Manhattan, the Civic Center Residents Coalition is holding a press conference tomorrow (Friday) at 12:30 p.m. at Columbus Park, across Worth from the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Federal Courthouse.
••• On Saturday from 1 p.m to 3 p.m., there will be a ”Bollywood Skate” at Battery Park City Ice Rink, complete with Indian music, samosas, and chai. (Broadsheet Daily)