••• “Reps from [Kutsher’s Tribeca, opening this fall on Franklin], whose partners include Jeffrey Chodorow and Zach Kutsher, write in with the news that its executive chef will be Mark Spangenthal, whose former employers include the Screening Room, the Dining Room, and Thor.” Also: “On Sundays there will be a Jewish-Chinese supper.” (Village Voice)

••• “A state court recently ruled against the buyer of two commercial condos on the ground floor of Tribeca Summit, a 10-story property that was recently converted to luxury condominiums, saying the sale is not enforceable. The buyer, linked to adult-entertainment clubs [italics mine], would have been able to buy the units at a 70% discount from their original price under the contract signed in the midst of the market collapse in 2008. The state Supreme Court of New York County cited the fact that Cari, the buyer of the commercial condos and plaintiff in the case, had a ‘unilateral, unrestricted right to cancel’ the purchase, which was outlined in the sales contract. The court went on to note that because of that right ‘under New York law, agreements that are illusory and lack mutuality of obligations are unenforceable.’ In 2008, Cari agreed to purchase the two commercial condos for $1.5 million, 70% below the original $5 million price in the original offering plan. According to court documents, Cari is controlled by real estate investor Robert Gans, who is also ‘an investor in adult entertainment clubs.'” (Crain’s)

••• “Cheap-ass buffet spot” Little Lad’s Basket* “is closing this week (the site says Aug. 5, but apparently there’s a note on the door saying they’ll shutter on Aug. 12). But fear not! According to the note on their site, it looks like the restaurant may be looking into relocating.” (Midtown Lunch) *I couldn’t make that up if I tried.

••• “Fresh from signing a lease for one million square feet at One World Trade Center, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey is so confident about the building’s prospects that it has decided to halve the amount of space it was planning to lease to a federal agency to 300,000 square feet.The U.S. General Services Administration had agreed to take 600,000 square feet—one-fifth of the three-million-square-foot tower—although a lease was never signed. However, the tremendous tenant interest in the building has convinced Port Authority officials it can find private sector companies willing to pay higher rents in the 104-story tower scheduled for completion in 2013.” (Crain’s)

••• “After more than six months of delays, the new international-fusion restaurant SamSara is finally close to opening on Water Street.” Not till October. (DNAinfo)