••• The Pussycat Lounge at 96 Greenwich has closed. (Downtown Alliance’s Mess Around Downtown blog)

By Fred R. Conrad for the New York Times

••• “The 41-story former Deutsche Bank building opposite the World Trade Center site is now the one-story former Deutsche Bank building. Within a month, it should be down to zero; the last and largest of the 9/11 structural remnants to be cleared away, almost a full decade after it was seriously damaged in the attack and six years after the first of many promised completion dates. […] The building will never disappear entirely, because its foundation walls and steel columns will remain, hidden below street level. They might even be used in some way to support whatever structure goes there next. And what will that be? Julie Menin, the chairwoman of the Lower Manhattan community board and a board member of the development corporation, has been among those championing the idea of moving the proposed performing arts center to 130 Liberty Street from a site just east of 1 World Trade Center.” (New York Times)

••• “The city’s budget woes just hit I.S. 289’s after-school program with a one-two punch that left parents and staff reeling. The city slammed the popular middle school program with a 14 percent budget cut halfway through the school year, then, more recently announced that the program would not receive any funding next year.” (DNAinfo)

••• “Way back in May of last year work began on the first location of Hot Clay Oven on Maiden Lane (btw. Gold & Pearl) and after numerous delays it’s officially opening next week. It’s supposed to be the first location of a chain with an Indian fusion menu where you can choose among a bunch of different items in a bunch of different forms [….] There is a preview on Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. with free food. Wednesday and Thursday are soft opening days from 11 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. with half off everything. The store officially opens at 11 a.m. Friday.” (Midtown Lunch)

••• According to Platinum Properties, “Average rents in FiDi went up about 5% or more from last year, concessions (including the occasional four months free) were offered on 57% of leases, and an average 1BR will cost you $3,013 per month.” (Curbed)

••• The founders of Aruliden, a product-design-and-marketing firm, fake-shop for coat hooks and coat racks, finding good options at Just Scandinavian and Playing Mantis. (New York Times)

••• “The School Fields Task Force of Community Board 1 is planning to help local organizations maximize the use of Downtown’s green fields and indoor spaces for youth sports.” (Broadsheet Daily)

••• Three Cunard cruise ships—the Queen Mary, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth will all be in New York Harbor tonight: “The ships will leave their respective Brooklyn and midtown piers at 6 p.m. to rendezvous off the Statue for yet another Grucci fireworks extravaganza [….] The best viewing locations—other than strategic windows on high floors—will be Battery Park and the Esplanade.” (Broadsheet Daily)