It’s safe to say we are all feeling the all-consuming stress of the coronavirus. (I would like to have just one conversation this week that does *not* mention COVID-19.) And the neighborhood’s businesses are the canaries in the coal mines here: they are already seeing business slow down (well, except at Whole Foods) whether it’s due to fewer tourists or more caution on the part of local residents. The Tribeca Film Festival (scheduled for April 15) has been postponed. (Taste of Tribeca, scheduled for May 16, has not been cancelled, but that possibility must be on the horizon.) I’ve gotten these updates, and more come in every hour:

AT THE RESTAURANTS
At Tribeca Grill, Tracy Nieporent reports that lunch yesterday saw about half the number of seatings that the restaurant usually has, and that is not unique. “Business is slow for everybody, and it’s slow all over the city,” said Nieporent, who is involved with NYC & Co. The upside, I will note, is you can get a reservation anywhere right now. He noted that obviously people should not put themselves in harm’s way, but he thinks there could be benefits to getting out, especially in your own neighborhood. “We’ve been through 9/11 and other things. In times of anxiety there’s nothing better than sitting down for a meal and talking things out.”

Racine’s took the unusual step of eliminating some tables, so diners are spaced further from each other. “It seems counterintuitive for a restaurant (especially a small one) to engage in some level of ‘social distancing.’ But it makes complete sense to us. So today we’re doing just that by making our little wine restaurant even smaller and thereby making it more spacious. We’re reducing our overall capacity by removing 40% of our tables and 30% of our bar stools, allowing us to greatly increase the distance between them. No need to side-eye the strangers right next to you. You can keep the focus on the food, the wine, and your actual dining companions.”

Sweetgreen announced it will offer up to 14 days of Care Pay to employees who have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 so they can self-isolate at home.

AT THE MALLS
Westfield reports that they have increased the frequency and intensity of cleaning, focusing on high-touch areas like restrooms, play areas, dining areas and water fountains. Brookfield is adjusting its minimum hours to 11:30a – 6p, but individual shops and restaurants can keep their own hours. All public events with more than 100 people are cancelled at least through March 30.

AT THE SEAPORT
All the Seaport Fit classes have been cancelled as of tomorrow; check the website for changes. And as of today, the retail, entertainment, and restaurants remain open. “We, along with our small business owners and their employees, appreciate your continued patronage.”

AT THE MUSEUMS
Following the same announcement from the Met, the Children’s Museum of the Arts announced that they will close as of Saturday, March 15. While they had no reported cases, they will clean the museum while it’s closed and keep the spring and summer programming on the calendar. The Museum of Jewish Heritage announced today that it will close for two weeks. “The current plan is to reopen the Museum on Sunday, March 29, pending an assessment of the situation at that time.” The museum added that if you purchased tickets for these weeks, “it would be greatly appreciated if you would allow us to hold the value of your ticket purchase as a fully tax-deductible donation to the Museum.”

ON THE SIDEWALKS
And the Greenmarket will stay open, especially since its operations are crucial to the 250 regional farmers who sell through them. But they are implementing some practices: there will be no samples of products; all staff processing credit or debit must wear gloves; and there will be hand sanitizers at all the market stations. They also suggest washing reusable bags. “With your support, GrowNYC Greenmarkets have been operating through good times and bad for the past 43 years, building an interdependent regional food system that fosters community and nourishes our urban and rural neighbors alike. Together, we will get through this.”

 

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It should go without saying, but like virtually every restaurant, we are stressing that the health, safety and comfortability of our guests and our employees are our #1 priority right now. And (of course) they are all the time. Here at Racines NY we’re doing all the things we’ve all been advised to do: frequent washing of hands, more sanitizing of surfaces and handles and doorknobs, not shaking hands, if you’re sick you’re staying home. But then there’s this: It’s hardly unusual in New York City to maximize the real estate and have tables virtually right on top of each other, hosts and maîtres d’ often having to pull the table out just so you can get in to sit. In most cases, it’s a necessary evil. It seems counterintuitive for a restaurant (especially a small one) to engage in some level of “social distancing.” But it makes complete sense to us. So today we’re doing just that by making our little wine restaurant even smaller and thereby making it more spacious. We’re reducing our overall capacity by removing 40% of our tables and 30% of our bar stools, allowing us to greatly increase the distance between them. No need to side-eye the strangers right next to you. You can keep the focus on the food, the wine, and your actual dining companions. New Yorkers are notoriously resilient. We’ve certainly been through worse. But this is not a time for “make it work” or “make the best of it.” Our guests and our team are indeed our #1 priority. We will continue to adjust and adapt as necessary, smartly, responsibly, and creatively while we all weather this proverbial storm together. We guess that means food and wine are inherently #2. We believe we’ve got that covered, too. #racinesny #racinesnyc

A post shared by Pascaline Lepeltier MS MOF (@pascalinelepeltier) on Mar 12, 2020 at 8:38am PDT