Neither the Parks Department nor the Friends of Finn Square – both of whom tend to the little triangle park south of the Franklin Street subway entrance – know who placed this bench on the sidewalk. It faces north, so you can watch for your Brooklyn or Fidi friends emerging from the northbound tracks. Comment here with clues!

KEEPING IT LOCAL
After meeting at a boutique PR firm, Tribeca residents Tierney Model Ehrhart and Victoria Shannon decided to put out a shingle themselves, stationing it here in the neighborhood. It’s called August PR and while it started with real estate, the two want to keep the business local wherever they can and have branched out to food and beverage and education. Tierney launched sales for the Woolworth Tower Residences and was a broker for Sotheby’s before moving over to real estate PR. Victoria worked with non-profit clients including Hudson River Park before focusing on real estate. (This is them in the office. Really.)

CONGESTION PRICING HEARING
The Manhattan borough president will host a public hearing on congestion pricing on Thursday, March 21, 6p, at 41 Cooper Square (bet. 6th and 7th streets). The congestion pricing plan now under consideration in Albany has the potential to change the way Manhattan works, especially downtown.

HOMAGE OR CAUTIONARY TALE AT AMERICAN THREAD?
USAToday Sports spotted the 88 – an homage to NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. – in the living room of the penthouse at the American Thread building (West Bway and Walker) which is now on the market. Dale himself joined in the ensuing Twitter discussion. This would have been totally lost on me, of course, so giving the sports writers full credit here. But my ears pricked up when I saw that the sculptures are really criticism, not homage, according to this review in LA Weekly. A rabbit hole, I know, but fun to follow.

I asked @JimmieJohnson, not his place. Could be @JeffGordonWeb

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 8, 2019

VENDING MACHINES TO REPLACE SUBWAY NEWSSTANDS?
Maybe this is why the newsstand in the 1/2/3 station at Chambers has been closed for eons? What a bummer. This was my source for People. Anyone else have the story? And is the one at the A/C/E still open? — Crains

SIGN UP OPEN FOR GIRLS FUTSAL
Downtown Futsal is registering now for its spring season, which starts March 30/31 weekend. Open to all girls born in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011. Dates of Play as on the weekends of March 30/31, April 6/7, 13/14, May 4/5, 11/12, 18/19, June 1/2, 8/9 (1 game per weekend, total 8 games ). Cost is $180 for the season. To register, go to http://gothamgirls.siplay.com and select “GGFC Downtown Futsal 2019 Spring Season”.

FREE PROGRAMS AT FRED ASTAIRE
Fred Astaire New York Downtown is starting new six-week courses on March 18 on weight loss, posture improvement, memory improvement, stress relief and confidence building and is looking for three participants for each course who would like to be a part of the course for free. If interested, contact nydowntown@fredastaire.com.