Went to Augustine for Thanksgiving and it couldn't have been more perfect; food, service... and that oh so flattering lighting! — julieW on First Impressions: Augustine

You mean 70 Vestry? Pretty sure the contractor has a temporary office across Washington, but can't remember the company's name. And/or you could reach out to the sales office at Greenwich and Vestry (212-775-0070) — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: Tipsy Shanghai Restaurant Report

I actually prefer the initial rendering. Not a fan of buildings with random balconies... and awnings? — lowphat on Seen & Heard: Happy Thanksgiving!

I just moved out of 34 Desbrosses Saturday morning, but while packing the night before I noticed 3 black cats hanging around inside the construction site across the street. How would one go about contacting the construction site about this? — Sean on Seen & Heard: Tipsy Shanghai Restaurant Report

A great loss that Gehry's design wasn't built. (Frivolous?! It would have been the only good thing down there.) The new one will glow pretttily at night (homage/rip off of the Beineke Library at Yale, which uses the same transparent stone idea to make the building a lantern at night), but is otherwise just a great lump of a mausoleum. The opening at the bottom makes people coming in and out look like roaches skittering in and out of an overturned box. And thus the parade of mediocrities that is the new World Trade Center is completed. The Drains of Doom, looking like the urinals in Mordor, the Falling Whale Box, the obelisk with a spike on top -- world's largest homage to Sharon Stone's ice pick in Basic Instinct -- and the Alien Bug (which I kind of like). A disaster theme park. A thirty-one year resident of Tribeca, I remember going over to Greenwich and Chambers on the morning of 9/12 and looking down at the pile of rubble that was 7 World Trade and thinking that the only thing that mattered was to build great architecture down there. To say to the world, all those murderers can do is tear things down. We can do THIS. I find it all very sad. And I'm glad I emigrated to Brooklyn three years ago so I don't have to see it all every day. — Former tribecan on First Look: The Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center

"they’re afraid Soho will turn into a shopping mall" Isn't it a bit late for that concern? — Marcus on In the News: How People Around Here Voted

In Hong Kong (where I used to live) and other cities--not just Asian--it is common to find Chinese restaurants one floor up. Although the location no doubt has more to do with rental rates, one can also hope it tastes and feels more authentic. I can't wait to try this one. Thanks for the review! — Janet on Seen & Heard: Tipsy Shanghai Restaurant Report

Thanks for the link. I fear I'll walk the 5-lb. battery over there only to have them say they won't take it, but it's worth a try. Smaller batteries are easy to return. When I tried at the Duane Reade on North End Ave., the cashier said the battery just had to fit inside a certain plastic bag they have. — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: Tipsy Shanghai Restaurant Report

please, remember that you need a wired phone that doesn't require electricity for power failures. the verizon fios battery only powers the modem. you also can just disconnect the old battery and live without the power backup. the verizon guy told me over the phone how to stop the beeping or you could google the instructions. — safe as milk on Seen & Heard: Tipsy Shanghai Restaurant Report

thanks for posting this. i have a shopping bag full of old batteries from electronics that i've been meaning to recycle. it's crazy that there is only one center for this in manhattan. this issue needs to be taken more seriously because the heavy metals in these batteries is poisoning our ground water. if you try to return old batteries to retail stores, they frequently have no idea that the law requires them to take the batteries and i doubt they have a clue as to how to dispose of them properly. one exception is b&h photo which has a bin near the entrance. — safe as milk on Seen & Heard: Tipsy Shanghai Restaurant Report

http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/zerowaste/residents/special-waste-drop-off-sites.shtml This website lists a drop off location for batteries and more in Manhattan at 74 Pike Slip between Cherry Street and South Street under the Manhattan Bridge. — JPL on Seen & Heard: Tipsy Shanghai Restaurant Report

Yes, you can purchase both tickets for lots of space and "privacy" or you can purchase a single ticket from the continuous row of premium plus seats in the middle section of the theater. I'd definitely do either next time I go alone. — Jim on First Impressions: iPic Fulton Market

Just FYI, the former Gotham Bikes space on W. Broadway is no longer vacant. It's the Skin Laundry facial spa: https://tribecacitizen.wpengine.com/2016/10/26/new-kid-on-the-block-skin-laundry/. But yes, many landlords believe their retail space to worth more than it is. — Erik Torkells on Gotham Bikes Is Closing

Losing any local business hurts. This one stings. My family of four has eight bikes and we could count on Gotham for reliable service 99% of the time. One of our bikes was bought there and took some beatings (our fault). They gave us better deals on repairs than we deserved. Three years ago my son Alex, then 15, and I took a two-week bike trip that criss-crossed New England. Watching the odometer on Alex's bike tick off the miles was key to our morale. Halfway through the trip, on a Sunday afternoon, the sensor rotated and it stopped giving readings. I had no clue, so I called the shop. Ben walked us through the necessary adjustment. The next day, a hilly 85 miles, was the apex of the trip. We couldn't have done it without Ben's fix. I'll miss those guys. Meanwhile, Gotham's prior W Bway space is still vacant. Who are these heedless landlords who are sucking the life out of our community? — Komanoff on Gotham Bikes Is Closing

If you don't want a stranger sitting next to you, can't you just purchase both seats? — T on First Impressions: iPic Fulton Market

Chose Tacqueria -- Funny! — Janet on Seen & Heard: World Trade Center Mall Updates

There's a row of Premium Plus seats that aren't paired into pods (at least in the theater I was in), along with a row of the cheaper Premium seats. And you do get to reserve a seat, unlike in most movie theaters. — Erik Torkells on First Impressions: iPic Fulton Market

i like to go to the movies alone since my husband travels for business frequently. But I wouldn't want to share a pod with a total stranger--especially a man! That might keep me from going here. — Janet on First Impressions: iPic Fulton Market

I was so disappointed when Pearl River Mart closed, now I am looking forward to visiting the new store. I have many beautiful things around my home from there. — Barb on Inside the Pearl River Mart Pop-Up

You appear to be right. This rendering is warmer and nicer than the previous ones (as seen at http://newyorkyimby.com/2015/02/new-look-24-leonard-street-tribeca.html). — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: Happy Thanksgiving!

Out in front of Cheryl Hazan Gallery - Washington Street? — Andrea on Where in Tribeca…?

That new building was the Provenzano parking garage on Leonard behind Starbucks on south side of the street. — steven sclaroff on Seen & Heard: Happy Thanksgiving!

I did think about how it'd be weird to share a two-seat pod with the wrong stranger. — Erik Torkells on First Impressions: iPic Fulton Market

We tried it with the free pre-opening tickets, which included a free popcorn. It took 51 minutes to get the popcorn. Other than that, I hate going to movies because of the audience factor, but this was a civilized experience and I would go here exclusively if they showed more like Angelica/Sunshine type ones. Also, it would be an ideal place for the Saturday afternoon Met Opera HD broadcasts. I would pay extra for those and the other theaters that show them are always sold out or crowded so there should be a market for that. Only negative is if you're going alone and get someone creepy in the other seat. — Hudson River on First Impressions: iPic Fulton Market

The service was horrible there. Maybe it was better if you bought your bike from them, but their mechanics are not among the better ones in the city (for high end bikes at least), they make mistakes and overcharge. It was a revolving door of incompetent employees. I only go there in an emergency and it's a shame, because I'm an avid cyclist and it would be great to have a solid bike shop down here. — Kristin on Gotham Bikes Is Closing