Thanks for asking...this vegetarian was thinking precisely the same thing. I hate when you show up and the staff is "bending over backwards to accommodate the vegetarian"...but it's achingly clear you don't belong there and they don't have much you can eat. — Will on First Impressions: L’Appart

I wonder how many trees die as a direct result of the heaps of salt plopped out on the sidewalks in our neighborhood whenever there's even the slightest hint of snow on the way. I find it frustrating that salt is used as a substitute for sand - instead of a slight sprinkling to salinate the water and raise its freezing temperature, the stuff is heaped in great mounds, and takes a corresponding toll on the plants and animals. — Will on Why Are There So Many Empty Tree Beds?

Our long triangulated nightmare is over! — Jim Smithers on The Tribeca Film Festival Is Not Throwing Its Street Fair

Wow , I will miss the street festival , I have been a resident do TriBeCa for 36 years and I always enjoyed the festival ! Especially after 9/11 it was uplifting . — Kinshasa on The Tribeca Film Festival Is Not Throwing Its Street Fair

Marcus - Call 311 repeatedly. When the hawkers were blocking the sidewalks in front of the new defunct Duane Reade, they actually sent the cops to move them. I had also emailed our local representatives, but to no avail. — Adam on In the News: Could Fika Be in Trouble?

Fika is quite possibly the filthiest coffee shop I've ever visited. I would never eat there. The bathrooms look like they haven't been cleaned in years and there is garbage all over the place. They never sweep or wipe the tables down. It's a shame. Just gross... — B on In the News: Could Fika Be in Trouble?

For example, here are all the requests since 2010 on Franklin Street between Lafayette St and Broadway: Created Date Closed Date Agency Complaint Type Descriptor Incident Address Status Due Date Resolution Description 5/27/2014 12:06 6/3/2014 9:11 DPR Illegal Tree Damage Roots Damaged 54 FRANKLIN STREET Closed 6/6/2014 13:30 The condition was inspected and it was determined that no work order was necessary. The condition will not be inspected again for at least 90 days. 7/17/2012 12:37 7/26/2012 11:19 DPR New Tree Request For One Address 50 FRANKLIN STREET Closed 1/13/2013 12:37 The Department of Parks and Recreation inspected and determined the issue was out of its jurisdiction. 6/22/2012 13:35 7/26/2012 11:18 DPR New Tree Request For One Address 50 FRANKLIN STREET Closed 12/19/2012 14:44 The Department of Parks and Recreation inspected and determined the issue was out of its jurisdiction. 6/18/2012 15:24 6/22/2012 12:52 DPR New Tree Request For One Address 50 FRANKLIN STREET Closed 12/15/2012 15:24 The Department of Parks and Recreation inspected but the condition was not found. 12/21/2011 9:40 12/21/2011 11:50 DPR New Tree Request For One Address 50 FRANKLIN STREET Closed 6/18/2012 9:40 The Department of Parks and Recreation inspected but the condition was not found. 12/19/2011 8:03 12/19/2011 14:26 DPR New Tree Request For One Address 50 FRANKLIN STREET Closed 6/16/2012 8:03 The Department of Parks and Recreation inspected but the condition was not found. 6/13/2011 10:51 6/19/2012 13:31 DPR New Tree Request For One Address 50 FRANKLIN STREET Closed 12/11/2011 9:03 The Department of Parks and Recreation has planted the tree(s). — James on Why Are There So Many Empty Tree Beds?

The City posts its public data at http://opendata.cityofnewyork.us/ "On March 7, 2012, former Mayor Bloomberg signed Local Law 11 of 2012, more commonly known as the 'Open Data Law,' which amended the New York City administrative code to mandate that all public data be made available on a single web portal by the end of 2018." * If one goes the link above and enter "311" in the search field, it will return links to databases of all 311 Service Requests by address and complaint type, for various years. * Once one accesses a 311 SR database, one can filter by agency "DPR" for Department of Parks and Recreation. * Then one can filter for all complaint types including the word "tree" * This returns results for new tree requests, for maintenance requests for damaged trees, removal requests for dead and dying trees, etc. * There are fields that show the status of the complaint, the date the status was updated, and a (generic) resolution description. — James on Why Are There So Many Empty Tree Beds?

Totally agree. I love Fika. — KP on In the News: Could Fika Be in Trouble?

Do they offer any vegetarian options for dinner? — Tina on First Impressions: L’Appart

Residents did everything they could in the case of 100 Franklin. The Mayor's affiliate got a donation of $10,000 from a DDG affiliate 8 days after DDG got a zoning variance worth $ 7 million from the Board of Standards and Appeals, according to the NY Daily News. All the residents got was a promise for a spruced up traffic island. — James on Huge Residential Conversion on Church Street

I also like Fika, being of Scandinavian descent. — Janet on In the News: Could Fika Be in Trouble?

Good ideas, Robert. Back in the day (1970s and 1980s) when CB 1 had more local residents who were moms and dads and not real estate wheelers and dealers, and when we had more Fed regulations that required that developers HAD to include a public amenity along with most developments (so we could horse trade a park or school or community center for extra floors or a high rise), Tribeca had leverage. We created Wash Mkt Park even though it was supposed to be BMCC's Parking lot. That has largely gone as $ absent condo ownership gives the area less of a commitment in what"s happening. Our voter turnout is AWFUL. My Club Downtown Progressive Dems has a tough time finding locals who we can actually register. But we plan to be out there. PLEASE keep your registration up to date! Get involved , come to CB 1 meetings, VOTE. Bitch when necessary. But be heard. If you are a small business, please join our newest group: Tribeca Alliance Partnership. We have a neat website. We'll be at Tribeca Film Festival Family Day April 27. — Jean Grillo on Huge Residential Conversion on Church Street

Seems very odd to me that there is no simple online log maintained of trees that have been cut down and trees that have been re planted. Basic accountability. Seems to be more of a motivation to cut down than to plant... Dr. Seuss' onceler seems to have surreptitiously instituted himself within the parks department! Sad! — Rohin on Why Are There So Many Empty Tree Beds?

I hope the Fika closures are only underperforming locations as management indicates. It would be a sad day if the Fika on Washington street closed. Quite frankly the ONLY good thing that came out of the fugly Truffles building. Going there tomorrow :)! — Rohin on In the News: Could Fika Be in Trouble?

Now how and when can we get rid of all the sleazy knock-off sellers that congregate on Lispenard Street, on the corners, and blocking the subway entrances? — Marcus on In the News: Could Fika Be in Trouble?

As for Canal Street - The Duane Reade @ Canal & Broadway just closed rather suddenly. Sign on the door says closed permanent. — Marcus on In the News: Could Fika Be in Trouble?

My husband and I spent an evening here and thought it was excellent. The single seating and small size were huge perks for us - no worries about overstaying and it was charmingly intimate. The food was wonderful - on par with other restaurants at similar price points- and certainly the best downtown (although we've yet to try Atera). I so badly want them to succeed so we can visit every so often for special nights out. The worst part by far was that the bathroom was in le bistro (or whatever) which sort of breaks the spell. — Kerry on First Impressions: L’Appart

Curious: WHY is Whole Foods asking the tea people to leave? — Bruce on Seen & Heard: The Puffy’s Penthouse

It's worth pointing out that they do one seating, which means you own your table for the night and there's no rush. You eat and drink at your own pace. In warmer weather, they offer seating outside for the rum punch and you re-enter the dining room whenever you like. I've been there twice for dinner -- both times with wine pairings -- and thought it was superb. — Jon on First Impressions: L’Appart

Blue Ribbon Federal Grill is opening on March 15th. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on Seen & Heard: The Puffy’s Penthouse

My husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary here last May and we thought it was wonderful. Highly recommended. You also just reminded me to make my reservation for our 6th anniversary. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on First Impressions: L’Appart

On my block alone, West 21St. bertwee 7th Ave and 8th Ave there are 5 empty beds. All throughout Chelsea there are empty beds. You would think that the city would keep records of th trees removed and that they need to be replaced in a timely manner. Or is that to much to ask. — FCENNO on Why Are There So Many Empty Tree Beds?

I too am sad that KIKI DM closed! Loved that place. My go-to now is Fleur Du Mal. A different vibe, but really great pieces. — Kim on Kiki de Montparnasse Has Closed

I walked past today. On the west side of the alley, 3 gratings are still existing at the south end of the alley. If you look inside, you can see how they apparently are used now to vent from the basement of the building on Broadway. — James on Seen & Heard: Virtual Reality at the Tribeca Film Festival