••• “The Battery Park City Authority has completed the replacement of the artificial turf ball fields that were damaged beyond repair in October, by Hurricane Sandy, and plans to open the ball fields today (Wednesday, April 3) for several days of unstructured play by area residents, before the facility hosts Opening Day Festivities for Downtown Little League this Sunday.” —Broadsheet

••• “After years of delays and millions of dollars of cost overruns, the overhaul of Pier A, the landmarked 126-year-old pier at Lower Manhattan’s tip, may finally be taking shape. By June, workers should finish repairing the historic, but dilapidated pier — which suffered another major setback as a result of Hurricane Sandy damage — Gwen Dawson, senior asset manager for the Battery Park City Authority, told members of Community Board 1’s Battery Park City Committee Tuesday. The BPCA will then turn the pier over to a group of developers including the Poulakakos family, who will pour $18 million into the space to build an oyster bar, a sit-down, upscale restaurant, a catering hall and a tourist information center. They plan to open the new pier by Memorial Day 2014, they said.” —DNAinfo, which has more renderings courtesy Greenlight Architects (love the people)

••• Congrats to Euphoria Spa for getting a mention in People; Megan Hilty of the TV show “Smash” recommended the Spa Week (April 15-21) deal on spray tans ($50 for two).

••• “The 1 train’s old South Ferry loop station will reopen at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning, the MTA announced this afternoon.” —2nd Ave. Sagas

••• New York magazine raves about Café à la Carte at the Hotel Particulier gallery on Grand. I’m heading over there tomorrow—will report back….

••• A New York Times write-up about the newish Fika on Washington says that the Pearl Street Fika has reopened.

••• DNAinfo profiles the five new members of Community Board 1, Pasanella & Son’s Marco Pasanella among them.

••• “It’s almost time for TOAST [Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour]. The free three-day-long art walk that lures hundreds of daytrippers—from serious collectors to occasional art buyers to the just curious—takes place the first weekend of May. ­ Some 80 Tribeca-based artists are expected to open their studios to visitors from all over the city and beyond.” —Tribeca Trib

••• Historian Oliver E. Allen writes about when there was a daguerreotype studio at 233 Broadway. —Tribeca Trib

••• “‘Cram schools,’ once the cultural domain of Chinese-, Korean- and Russian-American students, have gained traction with non-Asian parents hoping to improve their children’s test scores.” Naturally, there’s one around here (called Florentine). —New York Times

••• The ground-floor (and basement) retail condo at the new-build 50 Laight was sold. Any guesses as to what kind of business might want to be there? Real estate office? Spa? —New York Times

••• “Starck loft at 15 Broad Street with no bedrooms sells at $833/ft, for that reason.” —Manhattan Loft Guy

••• “Community Board 1 passed a resolution calling on the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office to deny New York Road Runners a permit to bring the half-marathon back to the Seaport next year.” —Tribeca Trib