http://nypost.com/2017/08/16/cheetos-pop-up-restaurant-is-real-and-its-classy/ "Local foodies flocked to Tribeca on Tuesday night to get a taste of orange-coated delicacies — such as 'Flamin’ Hot Limón Chicken Tacos' and 'Purrfectly Fried Green Tomatoes' — as the Cheetos pop-up restaurant kicked off its three-day stay in the Big Apple. [...] "The Cheetos pop-up, dubbed 'The Spotted Cheetah,' is located on West Broadway at Franklin St. inside the Distilled gastropub. [...] "'We thought it would be more cheesy inside — but it was a serious dining experience with good service and, like, mood lighting,' explained Sarah Roe, a 23-year-old Manhattanite who came with her friend, Caroline Meyerson, also 23. "“It was classy,' Meyerson gushed. 'We had the macaroni topped with hot Cheetos. It was intense, but delicious…A lot of flavor…I couldn’t have a whole bowl, but it was delicious.' [...] "In addition to everyday food lovers, the pop-up also got a visit from singer Mariah Carey — who graced its Orange Carpet with twins, Moroccan and Monroe." — James on Worst Pop-Up Restaurant Idea Ever

In related sidewalk obstruction news, what's up with Church Street Boxing gym (now on Walker Street) holding its classes out on the sidewalk and even out in the street? It's impossible to walk by...you either have to walk out into the street or completely cross the street...and if you walk too close, you're likely to get punched by someone practicing their Ali moves. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

Josh - Thank you for the reply. I am relatively new to the neighborhood; did the Canal situation get much worse that recently? I will indeed write to CB1 and Councilmember Chin. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

It means, "The 1st Precinct did a little bit before deBlasio took office. Now we use him as an excuse to do nothing. Maybe try the 5th Precinct." — James on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

Really? What happened to Broken Windows? Ask deBlasio. For example, the end of enforcement means there is so much marijuana smoked now on the streets it smells like a skunk farm. Ask the 1st Precinct and Councilmember Chin and CB1 why they tolerate the situation on Canal Street. — James on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

What happened to the "broken windows" policy of NYC? Wasn't the logic that allowing relatively minor community crimes (like this one) creates an atmosphere of lawlessness, which encourages more serious crimes, and of course generally degrades the quality of life? Thus, it is important to remedy even these seemingly (at least to some potential observers) minor or victimless crimes. (I do not believe they are victimless, of course; intellectual property rights are abused and the creators of the originals are not compensated; the local businesses suffer; the local community suffers; those who work in sweat shops to produce this junk...) — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

It seems to be a sleazy and awful business all around. It is ruining our immediate neighborhood here in TriBeCa "East". It's becoming almost impossible to even get to the subway station. It's now an obstacle course with these counterfeit sellers, plus all the ones who stand around on the corners and whisper furtively to you as you pass "Gucci", "Rolex", etc. Disgusting. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

Thank you for the efforts with calling in the problem...What was implied with the officer's comment that "It’s a whole new world out there now.” Did he mean laws have changed? That criminality in general is increasing? — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

Best quote from the crystals article IMO: “Sometimes in our work, we get husbands who are clearly humoring us when we make suggestions" -Elizabeth Kohn, co-founder of the Cristalline, a design firm. — James on In the News: Subterranean Cartography

Jon - our local politicians are broke - of course they'll go for the money. That's the situation we're left with. — B F on In the News: Party Insiders to Choose Squadron’s Successor

Back in the day....20 Warren was a Chinese Latino restaurant before they went Latin restaurant and lounge. A number of years ago the police busted a prostitution massage parlor on the upper level. Sounds to me that 20 Warren would benefit from an indoor and outdoor remodel. — Ruben on A New Restaurant on Warren Street

I heard 53 Beach is going to be a WeWork. Rumor has it they scooped up the lease for a premium over the Montessori of Manhattan and that's why Montessori lost the lease. Unverified - but have heard this from a number of people in real estate. — Tribecan on Seen & Heard: Rumors of a New School

Very unfair to say that Soho Pediatric Group closed with notice. We got several notices, including the above letter, and were given plenty of time to retrieve records, etc. — BobR on Seen & Heard: Rumors of a New School

Here is the text of an email that went out last week: A Letter From Dr. Keith Dear Patients, At the end of June we presented this information regarding the closing of our practice on our website, Facebook and in our office at the time of patient encounters. Although it seemed that everyone knew within a day, clearly not all of you received the news. I apologize for this error. I am not practiced in the art of closing a medical office. June 27, 2017 My Dear Friends and adopted Families, This is a very difficult letter to write that fills me with deep anguish. My best friends and fellow physicians have informed me that at the end of July, they all be leaving Manhattan and seeking new positions and future options elsewhere. The departure of this talented, conscientious, and dedicated group of pediatricians will make it impossible for me to provide the high level of superior care for which Soho Pediatric Group has been recognized for almost forty years. A huge increase in the New York City commercial real estate tax, and a significant increase in our rent, and an unprecedented reduction in our insurance reimbursements, make it impossible to bridge the gap of hiring and training new physicians in any sort of timely manner. We are already operating at a financial loss from last year that now will be impossible to make up. So it is with profound and heartfelt sadness that I must announce the closing of Soho Pediatric Group on July 28, 2017. This is much more that a closing of a business to me. It is the end of a career that allowed me to love you and your children as though you were my own family. For me, you were my family. This filled me with a joy and delight that will no longer brighten my day and sustain me in these gloomy times. Hopefully these several weeks left will allow you to find new medical care in the ever shrinking arena of child health in Manhattan. We will try to honor all existing appointments. Medical records will be copied and provided to you for an across the board administrative fee of $25 or $50, depending on number of pages. Please make arrangements with the front desk to pick them up before we close our doors at the end of August. I am so sorry. This is devastating for me. Thank you all, from the very bottom of my heart. Sincerely, Marie B. Keith, MD Copyright © 2017 Soho Pediatrics, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: sohopedgroup@gmail.com — James on Seen & Heard: Rumors of a New School

So Squadron, in his departure, played the same insider game he decried for years at the BPCA. In leaving the selection of his replacement in the hands of party bosses rather than voters, he has proven every bit as cynical as the folks he made a living out of criticizing. And he's "one of the good ones"? Please. — Jon on In the News: Party Insiders to Choose Squadron’s Successor

While I agree with everything stated, just wanted to chime in with another angle. This really hurts retailers, small shops and business growth in the area. There is a reason most of Canal Street is vacant. No clothing store wants to be there as they don't want their products associated with counterfeit goods. So now you have a bunch of empty stores where these counterfeit sellers have more and more room to set up in front of only to create even less reason for any retailer to want to be there. CB1 really needs to step up. — Josh on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

Crimes aren't supposed to be "pursued" by private entities, but by law enforcement; that is a problem here. Private entities have leverage only to sue landlords of buildings where counterfeit goods are stored or sold. That leverage does not exist with sidewalk vendors. — James on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

The counterfeiting is a crime that has to be pursued by LVMH or Gucci, etc. The vendors have no legal identities in the US, so even if they are arrested, they slip through the system because they really don't exist- they give fake names, fake addresses, say "sure, I'll show up for my court date..." and then disappear. — Suzanne Torrison on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

Oh- one other side note. I'm a handbag designer professionally, and I'm very well educated about "factories" that produce these kinds of "goods". To say they are "very bad people" who run these "factories" is an under statement. These are not factories. These items are made in illegal cottage sweatshops, and you do not need to have me describe who makes these items and why. It is all connected to human rights issues, human trafficking and the lowest of the low kinds of abuses. When I pass tourists on the street looking to buy items, I tell them - "Don't buy that. These people are supporting the human trafficking trade". They know how to prey and benefit from human greed. — Suzanne Torrison on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

So yes, I called 311 the other night when the handbag and sunglasses outdoor market was completely out of control... I was transferred to speak to a police officer who very plainly stated to me "That it's a whole new world out there ma'am, and we're very sorry about this but there's very little we can do. We can send an officer there to ask them to move..." and then continued to tell me that my only real course of action would be to "take this issue up at Town Hall if I want things to change..." I said, "So really, you can go to Canal Street and commit any crime you like now?l he said, no, but sorry, "It's a whole new world out there now." — Suzanne Torrison on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

I wonder if the companies themselves really care, or have given up/are going through the motions. While not addressing Erik's appropriate outrage, this is a global problem for more brands than we see on Canal Street, which nothing seems to curtail. If they've gotten to the point that they're not making this a priority then there's no impetus for politicians and government to do anything. — A. on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

It's gotten much worse since the drug store closed. Now that once beautiful building is covered with graffiti and surrounded by trash. Report this to 311 any way you can: graffiti report, illegal vending, sidewalk obstruction , noise complaint. If enough complain about how this is wrecking a neighborhood, maybe we'll get some results. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

The counterfeit sellers are a disgrace. It's creating chaos in the area; one has to walk out in the street. It creates a general atmosphere of criminality and lawlessness. What can be done? Can we report it as obstruction of the sidewalk at least? Isn't it illegal to block the sidewalks like that? Also, I thought counterfeiting itself is illegal. Why is there no enforcement? — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked

The high-end Japanese steakhouse is coming to Greenwich St. supposedly. This place on Warren appears to be something different. — Ron on A New Restaurant on Warren Street

It's not just de Blasio and the 1st Precinct. City Councilmember Margaret Chin has gotten nothing done on the counterfeit front, basically watching it get worse whIle proposing unpassable legislation than she cannot gain support for. 1) NY Times April 26, 2011: But Councilwoman Margaret S. Chin, whose district includes Chinatown, plans to introduce legislation on Thursday that would make it the city’s business as well. Ms. Chin’s proposed bill would make it a misdemeanor to buy fake designer merchandise. If the bill passes, violators like Ms. Whitam could face a $1,000 fine, a year in jail, or both. [...] “In Chinatown, people can come and shop for some really authentic goods, and we want them to really experience the neighborhood, not just come down and buy these fake knockoffs,” [Councilwoman Margaret S. Chin] said. “We want to be known for our museums, our shops, our restaurants.” 2) NY Daily News, June 13, 2013: “We gotta do something,” Chin said. “[The black market in counterfeit goods] is really having a severe impact on quality of life.” 3) DNAinfo, November 5, 2013: Chin and Vallone introduced a bill last week that would make it illegal to make, distribute or store fake designer goods in a New York City building. “This legislation takes the city’s efforts against the counterfeit trade a step further by targeting the buildings that house the nuts and bolts of this illegal industry,” Chin said in a statement. 4) NBC News, March 13, 2015: But Chinatown is where Chin grew up, and she naturally worries that some of the main tourist draws have become fake designer bags and watches. “I don’t want Chinatown to be known as the counterfeit capital,” said Chin. Police have targeted counterfeit sellers in Chinatown with varying success, prompting Chin to introduce a bill in 2011 to empower law enforcement to fine those making the purchases. “The fact that you have a law letting people know - that would deter a lot more,” she said. There was a hearing for the bill in 2013, but it was never brought to a vote, said Sam Spokony, Chin’s spokesman. Chin hopes to reintroduce an amended version before the end of the current council term in 2017, he said. But some Chinese-American business owners have expressed fear that such a measure might discourage tourists who buy fake goods from dining in Chinatown, thus hurting the local economy. Chin disagrees. “The sad part is, a lot of people come, buy the stuff, and leave,” she said. 5) ABC7 Eyewitness News, November 23, 2016: Community leaders say enforcement was better under the previous administration. They say back then there were about 40 so-called street dealers in all of Chinatown. On this day Eyewitness News found 40 in just four blocks! "Definitely gotten worse!" Councilmember Margaret Chin said. Councilmember Chin says counterfeiters are hurting legitimate business owners. "Tourists go into their store where they sell good quality name brand products and they expect it to be cheap," Chin said. — James on Seen & Heard: Counterfeit-Bag Vendors Remain Unchecked