Wow, taking two buildings that don't really fit into the surrounding fabric of 19th century Tribeca stone and brick buildings, and wrapping them in glass, making them look even less appropriate and more out of place...I was thinking for a moment this was a April Fools trick. Welcome to midtown. And people thought the big red umbrella sculpture stood out too much? — Robert Ripps on First Look: Citigroup’s New Headquarters

glad to see the bailout money is producing some visible results.... from cnbc.com: "The bank that exposed the federal government to the greatest potential loss during the government bailout was Citigroup, which received a grand total of $476.2 billion in cash and guarantees, according to a new report of the Congressional Oversight Panel which oversees the TARP program." http://www.cnbc.com/id/42099554 — ... on First Look: Citigroup’s New Headquarters

Thanks! What would it cost? It could be open April through September then put away the other half of the year. Another idea I have is put a restored traincar diner there so we have that as well as the oyster barge. I mean if nothing will be built on Pier 25 then why not put things there? — A on Seen & Heard: Lispenard Hotel Mystery

On a side note: Those jars of Bonne Maman jams (which I love)? They will probably be selling them for $6.95 a pop. Meanwhile, at my local grocery, The regular price is $3.99, they go on sale often for $2.99, and every once in awhile 2/$5.00. So I don't think I'll be buying those while I'm down there. Just saying. — KS on A Long, Deep Look Inside Le District

I agree about the location. Personally I think it's horrible, but maybe it was the only large space they could find. I don't find being located in a bland corporate office complex very appealing - at all. Meanwhile, Eataly is located in an older building near Madison Square Park and the Flatiron building. I also agree that a well known French chef name or two attached would desirable, but not 100% required. Perhaps Dominique Ansel and one other. Still, I have been wishing for a French Food Market on the same scale of Eataly in NY for awhile now, and I hope it succeeds. Even better if it moved. ;-) France is the number one tourist destination for U.S. Tourists, so I think that is a plus. P.S. Wouldn't mind a Spanish food Market like Despaña on a larger scale either. — KS on A Long, Deep Look Inside Le District

Great idea! — Arianne on Seen & Heard: Lispenard Hotel Mystery

Here's an idea: Bring the restored oyster barge to Pier 25. Forget the restaurant which will never open there. — A on Seen & Heard: Lispenard Hotel Mystery

I've have already answered you. Go to FiDi Fan Page on Facebook. I've never loved living anywhere more than the Financial District and I'm excited to see the neighborhood as it turns into New York's newest 24/7 Community. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on First Look: Brookfield Place

One more note following the extensive Brookfield Place aka WFC correspondence: Wasn't it wonderful to walk into the Winter Garden and see our beautiful staircase in place and still there? We fought hard to keep it and we succeeded. Congratulations to all our neighbors who fought the good fight and, hey why not, even Brookfield for listening and learning and doing the right thing. — betty on Seen & Heard: Lispenard Hotel Mystery

Do we know who is creating the bread and cakes here? Is it a well known baker? — V on A Long, Deep Look Inside Le District

I became the idiot who comments before reading the post. Guilty — cami on First Look: Brookfield Place

i was responding to the thread above my comment which had expanded beyond BPC to lower manhattan...but good to see new yorkers haven't lost their snarkiness - there's that charm! — urban cowgirl on First Look: Brookfield Place

I'm hopeful that the meat and fish will be quality. There's a void in this department since All Good Things closed. — Anonymous on A Long, Deep Look Inside Le District

Where do you live, pray tell? What do you like about it? How is that affected by a mall opening in BPC? — Stuart on First Look: Brookfield Place

>>Unlike Eataly, Le District is off the beaten track for tourists . . . Please spend a few hours standing on the corner of Liberty and South End any day from May til October and count the number of illegally parked tour buses dropping the little darlings (oh, and the big nasty ones) off, and then reconsider this statement. And when the WTC observatory opens, it will only be worse. — Hudson River on A Long, Deep Look Inside Le District

Glad to hear about the bookstore. Brookfield however did punt aggressively on Boomerang toys--a very locally owned small business. And they pushed out the Sailing School, also very locally owned. I won't give them a full pass. Personally I don't care if everything is dead/calm at 6pm. I don't really have much appreciation for the bustle brought on by shopping at high end retailers. What is the point? What we can expect is thousands of more tourists coming to the 9/11 memorial and then walking over to Brookfield place. The tour buses are already idling in our streets illegally and the draw of high end shopping and a french market will turn the neighborhood into Time Warner Center meets Times Square. Why can't someone say, "lets split this large store that only displays 6 shirts at a time into 3 tiny cramped stores and let some non cookie cutter businesses in?" Is it really financially impossible to keep/cutivate small local businesses in the neighborhood? — cami on First Look: Brookfield Place

>>We have rebuilt a neighborhood left for dead . . . It's hard to remember now the really scary predictions after 9/11 about how all the businesses would start moving elsewhere--midtown, Jersey--and downtown would be a ghost town. While I really liked the "deserted" weekends, it's also a relief that things are working out differently than predicted. BTW, has anyone else noticed the sign on the right as you're entering from South End with all the arrows pointing in the wrong direction? I can't imagine why they don't at least cover it up until they can make new signage. — Hudson River on First Look: Brookfield Place

Wow, really? My pre-conceived notions about monolithic Brookfield have just been turned upside down. Good on them! Looking forward to stopping by soon. — Goodwin on First Look: Brookfield Place

EVERYTHING! :-) Read my FiDi Fan Page on Facebook and you will quickly see why I love this neighborhood so much. It's success is important not just for those of us who live here but for the city and country as a whole. We have rebuilt a neighborhood left for dead and have not just recreated it, but have made it a true 24/7 thriving community that is already among the city's finest. We should all be happy about what's happening down here. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on First Look: Brookfield Place

There may be a lot of fancy stores here, but we at Posman Books thank Brookfield for supporting a local, family-owned independent bookstore. Do you think we can afford the rents these national brands are paying? Of course not! We are in Brookfield Place because they wanted a bookstore and they were prepared to offer us an affordable rent. So maybe Gucci and DVF and Paul Smith are helping support independent bookstores by paying just a little bit of our rent too.... — Robert on First Look: Brookfield Place

Agreed and thanks — SD on A Long, Deep Look Inside Le District

It's a good use of space, I suppose, but I will not shop there. Appreciate the reporting, but I am not impressed with Brookfield Mall. — MME on First Look: Brookfield Place

"Beacon of Change" can't be used to describe something that follows trends. The only thing that's consistent about NYC is its evolutionary trajectory. The motivational factors behind this force today arguably do not take the values of all of New York City into account. I would ask the Financial District's real estate fan-boy what exactly he loves about the subarket. — Dim Light on First Look: Brookfield Place

bar inside smyth hotel? — resident on Where in Tribeca…?

The other challenges, since you almost asked: 1. Unlike Eataly, Le District is off the beaten track for tourists. 2. I don't know if people feel about French food the way they do about Italian food. When I was the editor of a travel magazine, we learned that newsstand sales were always strong if "Italy" was on the cover, but no other destination, not even France, made a difference. 3. No celebrity chef, à la Mario Batali. On the other hand, there are a whole lot of workers in the area, with more to come, and a vastly underserved residential community. And I can't wait to see it opened up to the plaza, especially when the weather finally turns. None of this means I don't wish it the very best! I just think about it too much. — Erik Torkells on A Long, Deep Look Inside Le District