For the second year running, the Alliance for Downtown New York is seeking applications for its Downtown Digital Innovation Grant, which will award two Lower Manhattan storefront businesses with $10,000 of services to improve their online presence or the digital tools within their stores. Apply here by March 20.
Last year’s grant went to Martin Busch Jewelers on John Street, which used it to take professional photos of their inventory and showcase it on both their website and Instagram. As a result, they’ve seen almost a 50 percent increase in website traffic over the past few months. And with the help of a consultant, they boosted their social media followers, set up a Facebook Shop and are now able to sell products via Instagram.

PLAN FOR PLACARD ABUSE??
The mayor and Councilwoman Chin will make an announcement today on placard abuse. Stay tuned…

TONIGHT: CONCEPTION ARTS SHOW
Tonight from 5 to 9p at M1-5 Lounge, 52 Walker, Conception Arts will present 40 local and international artists, selected from a submission pool of over 1,000 entrants, in a curated group exhibit, giving them the opportunity to showcase and sell original artwork in person and to strengthen relationships with local galleries, professionals and artistic peers. The one-night exhibits are active in 12 markets throughout the U.S. have garnered a fair amount of press attention with features by Paper Magazine, Huffington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.

MASSING FOR 86 WARREN
These aren’t all that interesting, but it took me forever to find them on the DOB site, so I am posting them just for the satisfaction.