BIRCH COMING TO CHURCH
Birch Coffee has taken the space on Church and Warren just south of Los Tacos in the former Jupioca space. The local chain has 11 locations in the city, including one in Fidi on Spruce Street. I think it’s time to do a coffee shop count…

HONORING NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST SYNAGOGUE
The Lower Manhattan Historic Association will honor the 293rd anniversary of the consecration of the first synagogue in North America with a ceremony on Friday, April 14 at noon. 26 South William Street is co-named ‘Mill Street Synagogue & Seixas Way’ and it was from this synagogue that Gershom Mendes Seixas, the “patriot rabbi,” led the Jewish community in New York in support of the American Revolution
and participated in George Washington’s inauguration. The ceremony will involve the presentation of the Gershom Mendes Seixas Religious Freedom Award to Bill Tingling, the founder and CEO of the Tour for Tolerance. The event is free; RSVP to abby@historiclowermanhattan.org.

EARTH DAY IN CITY HALL PARK
The City Hall Park Conservancy and the Friends of City Hall Park will host an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 22, from 10a to 1p. There will be gardening opportunities, a live band at the fountain at noon, t’ai chi, art projects from Church Street School and coffee provided by Variety Coffee Roasters. More info here.

BATTERY PARK UNDERPASS REDUCED TO ONE LANE
The Battery Park Underpass (between FDR Drive and Route 9A/West Street) will be reduced to one tube northbound and/or southbound Monday nights through Friday mornings from 11p to 5a through April 28 to facilitate inspection and maintenance by NYCDOT-Bridges.