••• Landmarks45.org, “dedicated to celebrating the forty-fifth anniversary of New York City’s landmarks law” and a project of the New York Preservation Archive Project, had this (and more) to say today about “The Triumph of Tribeca”: “It was on this day in 1991 that the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Tribeca West Historic District, the first of the Tribeca districts. […] Of course, the Real Estate Board of New York protested the designation of the Tribeca West Historic District. Again, the fear that historic district designation would freeze the area was raised. One benefit of the four-part designation strategy was that by 1993 when the City Council considered the designation of the three other Tribeca districts, there was a track record to demonstrate just how designation had impacted Tribeca West from the time of its designation until the City Council Hearing on the other three districts. With data from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Historic Districts Council was able to present the City Council an impressive list of buildings in the district that had been renovated or had new construction approved since designation. Over 50 buildings had applications granted, many receiving multiple applications. Here was proof positive of continuing reinvestment and vibrant economic activity in a historic district.”

••• Frederick Lesort, owner of Plein Sud, tells Grub Street about being in prison for a traffic violation.

••• “Imagine standing at the top of a rippling Frank Gehry building and riding its curves like a slide all the way to the bottom. That experience may be what Gehry had in mind when he designed his first playground, estimated to cost $10 million and which could open as soon as 2012 in Battery Park.” (DNAinfo)

••• The Wall Street Journal previews “Highlights in Jazz,” May 13 at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center: “After 37 years, New York’s most enduring jazz concert series—run for its entirety by lawyer-turned-impresario Jack Kleinsinger—is calling it a day. The final concert isn’t exactly a comprehensive history of jazz, but much of the genre will be represented: Vince Giordano’s 11-piece Nighthawks play the jazz of the 1920s and ’30s better than anyone. Billy Taylor, the 88-year-old pianist, is himself a walking history of jazz—ask him to tell you about hanging out with Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith and Thelonious Monk around 1943. Guitar master Gene Bertoncini and his collaborator, bassist Harvie S., play everything from Rachmaninoff to Jobim to the blues and make it all sound both lyrical and swinging.”

••• Landmarc‘s sister restaurant Ditch Plains gets one of the concessions at the new Brooklyn Bridge Park, says the Wall Street Journal. Wait, I feel an opinion coming on…. I walked over the bridge the other day to check out the park, and eh. When it’s all done I’m sure it’ll be more appealing. It beats no park, though!

••• The New York Times reviews Milk, the new New Georges production: “It may send you home ruminating on its themes: city vs. country; wild vs. domesticated; stability vs. freedom.”