FWIW, I remember the Mercantile Exchange building as the home of composer Lamont Young. — KP on Seen & Heard: Peace & Love Sure Looks Kaput

Synagogue for the Arts — Jim Smithers on Where in Tribeca…?

Great job by the NYT with its juxtaposition of a glowing, celebrity-obsessed profile of Joe Biden's nephew...whose claim to fame "is being Joe Biden's nephew" and who "spins on the Hamptons-New York party circuit." Sounds like one of the people populating the Times mythical version of Pier 25. — McGee on In the News: Marilyn Monroe Photos

Good. The article makes Pier 25 sound so nauseating that it will hopefully keep the crowds down. More room for me and the kids. p.s. we bought our stroller second hand. can you imagine?! — JK on In the News: Marilyn Monroe Photos

Hmm ... well, I have gone to school, worked or lived and hung out in almost evevery spot in Tribeca for the last 12 years and not only does that not come anywhere close to describing me, my friends or my neighbors, but it makes for nauseating "journalism." The Times is welcome to stay out of our neighborhood if they find it such a joke. By the way, I've never been to the Hamptons. — Hands Off on In the News: Marilyn Monroe Photos

Sure hope Racines didn't lose the Sunny One sign, I loved that. — SFJoe on Seen & Heard: Macaron Café Opens Saturday

Preppy? Pink polo shirts and boat shoes? I didn't know these still existed in the 21st century. — Anna on In the News: Marilyn Monroe Photos

It looks ideal for vaccine manufacturing. — Liz on Private: Loft Peeping: Scott Bruckner

I undestrand that the Non-Strobe light at the top of the WTC spire is actually a beacon, meant to be seen at 30 miles of distance. And it rotates! It is a symbolic beacon of freedom and the american dream, etc... — Dave on Seen & Heard: Macaron Café Opens Saturday

The sales office opens in September 2014. I just placed myself on the wait list for more info with the sales office. — Josh on Seen & Heard: Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar

Except for the brief period when the strobe was left on at night, back when we all noticed it, the strobe has only ever operated during daylight hours. After dark. It's always been a softer light, or a red light, located and beaming from the top, as opposed to the side emitting strobe. Just a guess, but I'll bet the FAA requires that very strong vertical strobe during daylight hours. After the very brief few days when we all noticed it bouncing off our buildings at night, it was corrected - about 10 days ago. Guessing that the timer just failed! — BobR on Seen & Heard: Macaron Café Opens Saturday

I believe the CDC is moving their Office of Infectious Diseases to this loft to take advantage of the sterile environment. They have had some problems at their other locations. — Jim Smithers on Private: Loft Peeping: Scott Bruckner

Robert LaValva's noble cause has been betrayed primarily by statements like, "Council Member Chin, who had long professed to support our cause, betrayed the community in favor of a suburban shopping mall developer, Howard Hughes." He has always confused himself and his constituency with "the community." Who elected him to represent the community? He speaks for a segment of the community that loves New Amsterdam Market. I love New Amsterdam Market, and although I have been on the Community Board for 13 years and have lived Downtown for 30, I do not profess to BE the community. Also, I was stunned to leard that LaValva was offered many thousands of feet of market space which he rejected. — Bruce Ehrmann on New Amsterdam Market Is Over

It is the fresh direct trucks killing the trees they hit one of them with a truck once, the exhaust fumes non stop and they bang the carts and hang bags on the trees too. And deblasio hasnt yet cut the $142 million in subsidies Bloomberg offered Fresh Direct, there is a boycott and a coalition out here I do not have the links for but look it up — Amber on Seen & Heard: Why the Dead Trees?

You're gonna need a bigger boat. There are bigger things lurking under the water. — Jim Smithers on Free Kayaking at Pier 26: What You Need to Know

lol — jammy_sod on First Impressions: Umami Burger

I also went to Haus recently...one night for their mixology program during daytime and last Sat for late night. The place is truly as advertised...opulent, stunning and just plain fun and in my own neighborhood! Mixology just opened so it was a bit slow, but they have a great drink menu and made by bartenders that really seem to know what they're doing. Late night was non-stop fun...great crowd, great vibe and very high end. I have to tell you, its nice to see a place of this caliber in our neighborhood and these guys have REALLY done it right...they took an old run down space that started to look like a eyesore from the outside and turned it into something really special. Looking forward to going back this weekend! For pics, "google is your friend";) — Bob Jacobs on Seen & Heard: Baked’s Projected Opening Date

The sole tree on Walker Street between Church and Broadway also died and was chopped down and trashed this week. — MR on Seen & Heard: Why the Dead Trees?

I hope it's not tree-eating rats ( http://www.wnyc.org/story/tree-eating-rats-blame-winter/ ) that's killing those trees. — KP on Seen & Heard: Why the Dead Trees?

Their margaritas are terrible!!! Both frozen and on the rocks. A marg on the rocks is served with 90% ice cubes. Speaks volumes about the place. For much better margaritas (and food), head a few blocks down to Southwest NY. — Seth on First Impressions: El Vez

So much fun! — Andrea on Field Trip: S-Cruise by Smartboat

I knew we were missing a part of the tongue-twister.... "Thrice-fried spiced fries, thrice-fried spiced fries, thrice-spied friced spies...." — Erik Torkells on Chef Floyd Cardoz Is Back

From http://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/tables/2012/04/23/120423gota_GOAT_tables_lester : "As wrong as it seems to devour an entire bowl of thrice-fried spiced fries mere steps from the Irish potato-famine memorial, the success of this simple dish is a reminder that North End Grill is all about the classics, executed with flair." — Dan Kohn on Chef Floyd Cardoz Is Back

So they just want to make you specifically try to say "thrice-spiced fries"? — Erik Torkells on Chef Floyd Cardoz Is Back

The thrice-fried fries are still available at North End Grill, they're just not on the menu. — Dan Kohn on Chef Floyd Cardoz Is Back