••• Marc Forgione is working on a cookbook, due out next year. He also has plans for a shopping site at chefmarcforgione.com.

••• Something new at this year’s Battery Park City Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 22 (11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.): “For the first time, there will be a nautical element. The historic sailboat Ventura will be offering 90-minute rides for $10, and the Manhattan Sailing School’s Big Toot, will take people on 20-minute excursions to the Statue of Liberty and back for $5. The schooner Shearwater will remain docked in the marina offering wine tasting for $10, with the proceeds going to help victims of Hurricane Isaac.”

••• @MMDevoe tweeted that the old Borders at 100 Broadway is being turned into a Ricky’s Halloween pop-up. I think I might dress up as an Olympic rower.

••• Unconfirmed rumor: The old OTB space at 25 Park Place (it goes through to Murray) will be a men’s clothing store.

••• According to the LMCCC, “A planned crane operation at 200 Hudson Street will bring road closures […] on Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Affected streets are Vestry Street from Hudson to Laight Street, and Laight Street between Hudson and Vestry Street.” (Which I assume means that U-shaped stretch east of Hudson.)