FREE IRISH BOOKS AT BOGARDUS
The Irish Arts Center is giving away free Irish books at Bogardus today — so that means there’s some Colum McCann (in three languages plus English) along with other best-sellers. And I just now put it together: it’s St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday!

TWO FIRES WERE “RUBBISH” FIRES
There were two fires recently — one on Greenwich and one on West Broadway — and the FDNY’s press office said they were just “rubbish” fires and would not require investigation. When I asked how rubbish catches fire, this was the explanation: “Improper disposal of flammable materials in a container with combustible contents.”

200 CHURCH EMPTY AGAIN?
I will check with Rafi Hasid, who operates 1803, but it looks like he has given up the space at 200 Chambers, the former Tribeca’s Kitchen and Marathi space. CB1 and the neighbors at 52 Thomas tortured him at last July’s Licensing Committee meeting, costing him another couple month’s rent on an empty space and, from what it looks like, scaring him off…

SALAAM BOMBAY SPACE COMING ALONG
B. wrote to say that the former Salaam Bombay space on Greenwich looks like it has been completely gutted. It has signs up for “Upon the Palace” but I can’t find any CB1 records on a liquor license application for the space…