That hotel was on the brink of failure and son Eric and Co knew that...only 30% of condo units sold, occupancy rates way down, nightclub in the hotel closed long ago, etc. That coupled with the fact that Trump only pocketed $3M/year on the property. My guess is that between some of the criminal connections on the part of the CIM organization and potential Russia connections it was time to shut it down. — Bob Jacobs on The Trump Soho Hotel Is Ditching Trump

The most amazing thing at La Pedrera IMO is the display showing how Gaudi designed arches by modeling them (100 years before computer aided design) with hanging chains, letting gravity create the arches upside down. — James on Seen & Heard: 101 Barclay Flash Mob

DDG would have one believe that its 325 West Broadway references Gaudi in its natural structural elements (albeit in a tensile material--metal--rather than a compressive material like concrete). http://ddgpartners.com/press/this-skeleton-inspired-building-brings-a-little-gaudi-to-nyc/ — James on Seen & Heard: 101 Barclay Flash Mob

Awesome idea for a flashmob at BONY's 101 Barclay! Happy to post on FiDi Fan Page when the time comes. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on Seen & Heard: 101 Barclay Flash Mob

Re: homeless South Asian man. I work for the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health and would potentially be able to connect this man to community-based organizations that could help. Erik - could you connect me to the folks who have been speaking to this man? Thanks so much. — Stella on Seen & Heard: A Peek Inside Buddha Bar

You pick a date and we will be there. Great idea. Let's organize a protest to get something done. Make a claim about race or inequality and you might actually get Margaret Chin to show up. — Jim on In the News: Pedestrian Head Starts

The Buddha Bar will be a disaster for the people on Thomas. I am shocked that the residents on that street they were not able to organize and block this. Going to be a bunch of B&T folks loitering on that block and making noise all night. What a shame. — Nancy on Seen & Heard: A Peek Inside Buddha Bar

Thank you so much for doing these guides. Way too easy to get used to the Amazon Prime of it all. Shop Local! — JulieW on 2017 Shop-Local Gift Guide (Part 2)

Too bad but thx for confirming — Carlo on Nosy Neighbor: What Are Those Holes in 1 World Trade Center?

Ask your Councilperson why PS 89 is open but not PS 234: "Schoolyards to Playgrounds opens school play space during non-school hours. Currently, there are 251 schoolyards are already open in this capacity, and upon renovation completion, the expansion brings the number to 261 across the five boroughs. This new investment will also fund improvements to existing sites in the program, including PS 54 in Queens. Each site receiving complete capital reconstruction will receive up to $3 million dollars for completion; improvement site funding varies. Additionally, NYC DOE will provide $70,000 in funding annually, per site, for custodial labor and supplies." From www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/509-17/de-blasio-administration-reveals-10-new-schoolyards-playgrounds-sites#/0 See also www.nycgovparks.org/greening/planyc/schoolyards — James on In the News: Pedestrian Head Starts

Amazon pickup locations near 10013: Amazon Locker - Ayush 311 Broadway at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Nera 140 Church St at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Tribeca 270 Greenwich St at Whole Foods Amazon Locker - Brian 101 Barclay St at Chase Amazon Locker - Bari 107 Nassau St at Blink Fitness Amazon Locker - Summit 623 Broadway at Chase Amazon Locker - Jeanie 21 Dey St at Century 21 Amazon Locker - Irons 111 John St at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Neely 142 Delancey St at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Samso 3 Sheridan Square at Gristedes Amazon Locker - Sonia 813 Broadway at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Altai 501 6th Ave at Rite Aid Amazon Locker - Unionsquare 4 Union Sq S at Whole Foods Amazon Locker - Somma 239 E 14th St at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Lindy 247 3rd Ave at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Luiz 182 5th Ave at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Sylvia 246 W 23rd St at 7-Eleven Amazon Locker - Chelsea 250 7th Ave at Whole Foods Amazon Locker - Zia 25 W 26th St at HLC Wholesale Inc. Amazon Locker - Hekat 282 8th Ave at Rite Aid — James on Seen & Heard: A Peek Inside Buddha Bar

re the homeless man on leonard and broadway, there are a few homeless men on leonard street, I think it speaks to the generosity of the neighborhood that they stay because the people here take care of them, there is one guy who hangs in front of my building I give him money each week, and he in turn cleans the front of our building saving us fines from the sanitation dept. he was I think chased off the street by the request of residents of #66 but comes back in the mornings, knowing that people are generous as I see other residents and people who work in the area helping him out. these are people down on their luck, some of them have mental problems but ive seen an uptick in the number of homeless in new york, and we need to help them. — tino on Seen & Heard: A Peek Inside Buddha Bar

You should expect a new and even more invasive round of works similarly to what’s going on one block east on Warren between West Broadway and Greenwich. The project is slowly moving east, eventually stopping at Broadway. — Erik Torkells on Nosy Neighbor: What Are Those Holes in 1 World Trade Center?

Titan is a legit greek grocer. What inspired you to go? — Demetri on Seen & Heard: Ochre and Canvas Home Sale

Hi Erik - do you know if the pipe works on Warren Street between West Broadway and Church are really done as some of the doormen in the block mentioned or we should expect a new and even more invasive round of works similarly to what's going on one block east on Warren btwn West Broadway and Greenwich ? Thanks! — Carlo on Nosy Neighbor: What Are Those Holes in 1 World Trade Center?

I know you're never supposed to say this, but I'm a little bit Japanese fooded out. This place sounds like way too expensive Izakaya upstairs and ridiculously over-priced omakase downstairs. As a mostly-vegetarian who will compromise with a bit of seafood if I have to, it bothers me more and more to make that compromise as the oceans get closer and closer to mass extinction (even the "dreams of sushi" guy in the documentary admitted sushi is terrible for the environment and should be eaten only occasionally.) And the whole Japanese food snobbery thing just doesn't do it for me. Izakaya is about drinking beer with friends (and I have lots of Japanese friends) and munching on fairly humble fare - and there are a lot of good spots around the city that provide just that. And Omakase is a rare once in a long while chance to sit with a chef and try little fancy tidbits, but when the price gets into the stratosphere, the whole phenomenon starts to look threadbare and exploitative - overhyped. Yeah, it can be fun, but no, omakase isn't the end all and be all of life. My husband goes to Japan a lot on business, and so, sure, I've learned not to go to sushi restaurants where everyone is speaking Cantonese (and yes, my husband is Cantonese, so we know.) On the other hand, succumbing to the insanity of Japanese snobbery and salesmanship can get a little out of hand, too. There's got to be a middle ground. — Will Meyerhofer on First Impressions: Tetsu

What about the playground at PS 234? Why is it not open to the public during daylight hours on the weekends? — Martin on In the News: Pedestrian Head Starts

We adopted a kitten from Best Friends last week. Note that they will not let you adopt unless they meet all members of your family first! No surprise pets! — Beth on 2017 Shop-Local Gift Guide (Part 1)

Crossfit 212 is closed for good. Major landlord troubles. The gym has been absorbed into Crossfit Tribeca (same owners) at 281 Broadway. — Cristopher on Seen & Heard: Ochre and Canvas Home Sale

I was visiting New York two weeks ago and had a terrific experience at The 75 Club. Great music by Louis Hayes and his first rate quartet. Beautiful venue, great bar, no bad seats. What a warm, inviting new club! I am telling everyone back in Chicago what they must experience when they go to NYC to hear jazz. Congratulations on creating such an inviting listening room! — Judith E. Stein on A New Jazz Club

You could see the inside of work going on here https://www.facebook.com/CitiscapeUSA/photos/pcb.1675133185841453/1675133122508126/?type=3&theater — Alex on Seen & Heard: Ochre and Canvas Home Sale

Update on sample sale hours: 11-6 on weekdays and 12-5 on weekends through 12/15. Currently there are items from Ochre. Pieces from Canvas to arrive in early December. — Duane Street on Seen & Heard: Ochre and Canvas Home Sale

I feel like organizing a large group of people to all use the 101 Barclay POP space at once is a good idea. If the owners of the building / BoNY are going to take an aggressive (and illegal) stance against the public, then its time for the public to take an aggressive (and legal) stance back. — "Flash Mob" on In the News: Pedestrian Head Starts

Do you know the days and hours of the sample sale? I stopped by today, but it wasn't open yet. — Duane Street on Seen & Heard: Ochre and Canvas Home Sale

"$295 per person"!!!!! We don't spend that much in a month on food. — Marcus on First Impressions: Tetsu