••• An ice rink will open Saturday on the fifth-floor terrace of the W New York Downtown: “The rink will be open through mid-February. Skate rentals cost $12, but bring your own and hit the ice for free. And skating is open to the public, not just residents and guests, though it is on a first-come, first-served basis, with room for only 15 skaters.” (New York Observer)

By Julie Shapiro (courtesy DNAinfo)

••• “The owner of a dilapidated Tribeca landmark [502 Greenwich, at Canal] is taking steps to repair it after the city expressed concerns that parts of it could collapse.” (DNAinfo)

••• Local kids performed in a Manhattan Youth adaptation of “The Nutcracker.” (Tribeca Trib)

••• “Less than a month to go for former Deutsche tower’s demolition.” (Tribeca Trib)

••• “The city has entered exclusive negotiations with United States Postal Service to create a 400-seat elementary school at the Peck Slip Post Office, the Department of Education said. […] It appeared last month that the negotiations had stalled, but now the city is in active discussions with the Postal Service, a DOE spokesman said Wednesday. One of the biggest remaining issues is how soon the Postal Service could leave the building, so the city could convert it into a school.” (DNAinfo)

••• “Battery Park City restaurant SouthWest N.Y. is fighting back after the City Department of Health issued a scathing report following a recent inspection. In a letter addressed to Battery Park City friends, neighbors and guests, SouthWest co-owner Abraham Merchant called the report ‘unacceptable’ and assured them the staff is taking immediate action to improve its conditions.” (Downtown Express)

••• “Since 1965, New York painter Robert Swain has fed off the energy of Downtown New York—making work that has evolved along with the neighborhood itself. The results of his decades-long painterly investigation is captured in ‘Visual Sensations.’ The retrospective is currently on view at the Times Square Gallery at Hunter College, where he has taught art since 1968.” (Downtown Express)

••• “The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel will be renamed the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel after former New York Governor, who held office from 1975 to 1982.” (Downtown Express)

••• “Tribeca inherited yet another landmark on Tuesday, at 258 Broadway (at Warren Street). [TD Bank is on the ground floor.] For 70 years, the building housed Rogers, Peet and Company, a men’s retail clothing store. The building’s ground floor is now occupied by a bank, and its top floors consist of apartment units.” (Downtown Express)

••• Curious to see a video interviewer of Matt Abramcyk, who’s opening Super Linda and apparently Tiny’s in Tribeca? (His hat looks like a reservoir tip.) By the way, to the person who writes nasty comments every time I mention Abramcyk: I can’t allow libelous comments, so don’t waste your time. (The Feast, via Eater)