October 22, 2009 Newsletter, Real Estate, Restaurant/Bar News, Services, Shopping
• In a New York Times op-ed, Charles J. Urstadt (the founding chairman of Battery Park City Authority from 1968 to 1978) and Avrum Hyman (the director of public information during that period) argue that New York City should buy back all of Battery Park City for $1: “New York City should simply take advantage of that obscure provision written into the 1979 agreement that transferred the title to the land from the city to the authority. With just $1, the city would reacquire the land; the authority would no longer control Battery Park City; and the development would become a neighborhood the same as almost any other in Manhattan.” The main reason is so that the city could get its hands on the $236 million currently in the BPCA fund.
• Grub Street reports that “a Megu employee of three years, Allen Ipanque Cordova, file[d] a lawsuit alleging that he worked below minimum wage and was forced to share tips with management. The complain asserts that the practice was company-wide.”
• According to this banner, Ashley’s European Bakery will be coming to 96 Chambers, formerly Rahman Candy & Tobacco. At least we’re assuming it’s European—the banner says Eurapean….
• The Thursday dinner special at Kiva Cafe—moved from last night because of a gallery opening—is homemade hummus with veggies, pita, and a cup of soup ($10).
• Euphoria Spa is introducing a 30-minute “Chill-Out” acupuncture session for $60. Available Thursdays 3 p.m.–8 p.m.
• The city finally approved a new demolition plan or the cursed Deutsche Bank building; it could start coming down as early as Nov. 2 but take more than a year (New York Post, via Broadsheet Daily).
• A reminder that the next New Amsterdam Market is this Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on South Street between Beekman Street and Peck Slip.
• Downtown Express notes that Sarabeth’s is taking over the Bazzini space, with the requisite quotes from people who say they’ll miss Bazzini and how the neighborhood isn’t what it was: “‘This used to be a real neighborhood place,’ [resident Susan] David said, speaking in the past tense although Bazzini is still open for now and a closing date has not been set. As for Sarabeth’s, David was not enthusiastic. ‘Tribeca’s not what it was,’ she said, ‘so it’ll do alright here.'” And now, forgive me, but I’m going to go off on a rant. In this economic climate we should be welcoming any and all new businesses—Bazzini was going to go whether Sarabeth’s came or not (no disrespect to Bazzini, but I have yet to meet anyone who exclusively shops there instead of Whole Foods; Whole Foods isn’t perfect, but it’s been a godsend). Moaning about missing the old Tribeca—which has been gone now for what, a decade? Two decades?—is tiresome and inhospitable, not just to new businesses but to the many, many people who have moved here in recent years.
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New Yorkers mourning their “old” neighborhood is a recurring theme in the city. I’ve heard the same moaning about the East Village, Lower East Side, Hell’s Kitchen, and sometimes Manhattan as a whole. After living in Tribeca for a few years it is unfortunate that people moan about the old Tribeca. Tribeca from two decades ago is a vastly different neighborhood. The comparison almost doesn’t make sense. On a personal note, I never liked Bazzini anyway.