••• The Villager is hosting a debate of the city council candidates on August 31 at 7 p.m. Margaret Chin is expected to show up at this one; maybe she’ll pass through Tribeca on her way.

••• Now that the Amazon purchase of Whole Foods was approved, “stores will also begin integrating Amazon Prime into the Whole Foods point-of-sale system; once that’s ready, Prime members are going to get ‘special savings’ and ‘in-store benefits.'” Does every single thing in life have to have a premium option? —Grub Street

••• “The drummer for classic UK pop act Squeeze, Gilson Lavis—who’s now a portrait artist and player for Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra—is launching his latest art show in New York. In Tune With the Portraits will show at Salomon Arts Gallery in Tribeca.” —New York Post

••• The New York Times noticed the Department of Transportation’s Street Seats program, like the one out front of Laughing Man. Too bad the paper’s photo of it (like the one below) shows it more or less empty, when in reality it’s quite popular.