I confronted one of the organizers today - my child goes to school at Spruce Street. As one of union members was leading a chant (he was not a mere picketer, clearly a union leader and almost certainly paid to be doing what he was doing) I asked him if he could be quiet. He charged at me and stopped just short of what police would probably agree is physical assault. Then best he could do is the old union fallacy of "doing it for America and doing it for kids." Then he asked me if I had kids. I stood there, child in hand, and said yes and that the demonstration did nothing but distract the kids. He didn't agree and felt what he was doing was necessary for his kids. Even though he was almost assuredly being paid to be there, and not realistically fighting to get back to work. I spoke to a staffer in Margaret Chin's office and unfortunately, in my opinion, didn't provide much leadership. I was told they are exercising their 1st Amendment Rights and the NYPD can't do anything about them. 311 is a joke. I feel any complaints to the union representation will result in the same, tired, boring old argument that I got into today. I mean honestly - Pace University is just going to stop work on the site, fire all of the guys working the job, and kiss and make up with these numskulls? Oh - our fault - come right on in and we're going to double your salaries. Our bad! They know that will never happen and they are only there to cause problems. Right under our children. They've taken over the neighborhood with their giant rat and they are starting to win. It feels like taxation without representation. — Chris on Open Letter: The Union Protests Disrupting Spruce Street School

There is an agreement between the school & union to not to use whistles that the police have helped enforce, but the shouting & chanting remains, and is loud, and is only two, three flights right below the special needs classrooms of P 94 and other PS 397/spruce classes. A bullhorn cannot be used, by law, but sometimes is. It does seem reasonable that the protests could being at 3 pm and last until 7 or 8 pm - (disturbing the nighttime commuters, many who work for the very businesses underwriting construction like this, would be crafty), but these union members are not currently working, and are paid for their time by the union (watch when they finish sometime, they get checks), and the protest work hours are 7 or 8 to 3, same as many construction jobs. The protest would be more effective if it was placed in front of Pace offices - the current construction site workers don't care. Considering that structure will take a year or two to complete, there has to be some different solution. It will prob need to come from the Gehry tower management, although breath shouldn't be held. You could make a disturbing the peace argument because of the school, though, no? — jfrankp on Open Letter: The Union Protests Disrupting Spruce Street School

Has anyone tried to contacted the union headquarters? I was walking through Brookfield Place early this week and a protest was organizing. There were union leaders speaking to the workers/protesters telling them what the protest was about. It was very organized. Skip the protesters and go right to the union. Find out who represents the workers and complain to them and about them. — anne on Open Letter: The Union Protests Disrupting Spruce Street School

Had Cecile found out if anyone from the school actually spoken to the protesters? — Jammy sod on Open Letter: The Union Protests Disrupting Spruce Street School

FYI Pisillo is open Saturdays. Good news for that part of town! — Erik Torkells on In the News: Really Good Italian Sandwiches

Soulcycle is the worst - staring at person's ass, no indication of results, old bikes, no technology. I have been waiting for FW to come to Tribeca for a long time - shoes and water included? Yes thank you — barbara on New Kid on the Block: Flywheel Sports

The best thing (in my opinion) about flywheel compared to Soul is the stadium seating. You actually look over the person in front of you as opposed to staring at their ass. Also like the ability to see how hard I'm working compared to others via their power meter application. — Brett on New Kid on the Block: Flywheel Sports

Will be interesting to see if they put a dent into Soul Cycle. I'm going on Sunday and eager to try it out. Just based on the pics it seems like they have a lot of extra space and love the water/shoes with the price. — paul on New Kid on the Block: Flywheel Sports

When first hearing the sound, I immediately thought of the heroic people who rushed in those buildings not thinking of their own lives, but thinking of their fellow man. It reminds me how one country, under God, selflessly went to the aid of others and there was suddenly no race issues, no jealousy, harmony among all Americans as each of us mourned the loss of those we did not know. The howling reminds me of Power and the power in that building revealed the power of Almighty God as He is reminding us to never forget the love we had for our fellow man that day, how race was not an issue, how love permeated our souls for those lost that day that changed America forever. Since it is impossible for the heroes that died that day to be wailing, it is a forever reminder of God's hand on this country and how He spared us from even more disasters. We praise you Christ for loving every American and those who gave their lives that day for others. May God Bless America and watch over us every day. Amen. — Jennifer on The Wailing of One World Trade Center

Catherine Lane at Broadway, next to the clock tower building. — Robert Ripps on Where in Tribeca…?

And my little video (posted on Tribeca Citizen) last year has been picked up by People.com and now has over 4500 hits. That's viral to me. — Andrea on In the News: Really Good Italian Sandwiches

I'm sorry about Josephine's and I hope they reopen soon! — Liat on Seen & Heard: Josephine Closed by the Department of Health

Geez. This Josephine story and the WTC wind story really put a bug up the butt of my favorite BPC anger blogger. Thanks for the extra entertainment! — Doug on Seen & Heard: Josephine Closed by the Department of Health

Josephine was having other issues. I stopped by a few weekends ago during the morning and the cook had no showed for the third time that week according to a fellow employee. — Tribeca resident on Seen & Heard: Josephine Closed by the Department of Health

Beginning to think I am the only one in this city who doesn't like Trader Joe's — Chris on Here Comes Fairway Market

Oh, Erik, you obviously don't remember the annual Bouley restaurant holiday extrava-orgasma of lights. They're almost as good as the food, but not as neatly presented. — Jim Smithers on Seen & Heard: Josephine Closed by the Department of Health

@Suzanne: I agree that I could've split mine with someone, and I don't say that often. Did you happen to ask/notice whether it's open on weekends? — Erik Torkells on In the News: Really Good Italian Sandwiches

Totally agree on Pisillo. I learned about it through the Midtown Lunch site (yeah, yeah, Pisillo is downtown, but . . .). Had a similar sandwich to yours: sopressata, provolone, artichokes, and "hot spread" (which tastes to me like hot peppers pureed with mayo) on the regular bread. Very well-balanced flavors, and neither too much nor too little filling. I like that they don't overstuff it with iceberg lettuce and out-of-season tomatoes. One sandwich was a whole loaf, easily enough for two people, which made it a great bargain. And the San Pellegrino citrus sodas are only $1.50 each! — Suzanne F on In the News: Really Good Italian Sandwiches

The crazy thing is that these photos were taken with a camera from inside Arne Svenson's apartment on Greenwich! I think...I could be wrong. — Jim Smithers on Loft Peeping: Samia Halaby

Ok first, the cover of that magazine hypnotizes me. And, Hallaby's loft represents the most well ordered live/work space in a time capsule I've ever seen. Love the tools hanging on the wall and glasses perched on the bowl of yarn. Everything is where it needs to be. — Andrea on Loft Peeping: Samia Halaby

Double decker tour buses have destroyed the quality of life on Broadway between Canal and Leonard Streets. Loud speaker tour guides penetrate closed double pane windows even on high floors. 100's of buses from 8:45 am to 7:30 pm everyday, 7 days a week, 365 days a year - even during the Sandy blackout when we had no power, water or heat in my building, we were subjected to being video taped and photographed by double decker tourists invading our misery. These buses, many of them rundown surplus rattling, roaring and screeeeeeching continuously. These buses sit and idle all day long between Lispenard and White streets emitting toxic fumes. Broadway is on a steep incline between Canal and Worth streets that causes these buses motors to rev hard to make it up the hill and really hard from a standing stop. These buses block 7 different MTA buses and their passengers from MTA bus stops. These double decker buses are mobile billboards that are avoiding any billboard regulation that is enforced city wide. May of these buses run empty - mobil billboards. It seems there is NO regulation or oversight of these private company buses. We are also subjected to dozens of out of state cross country chartered tour buses that are completely immune to parking and driving laws. NYPD does not have a bus parking violation category for illegally parked bus even in metered spot. A parking enforcement officer will walk right past a illegally parked bus and write a ticket to a residents car or truck or a delivery company truck like UPS, Fedex, etc that's providing a service to residents. These buses tear up the streets and sidewalks - too big to make the turns run over curbs and bust the antique granite and blue stone sidewalks down narrow neighborhood streets they should not be allowed. They should be restricted to West Side Highway and passengers use the same transportation New Yorkers use - MTA, taxi, Citi Bike or walk. All the air, noise and visual pollution takes it's toll on hard working highly taxed residents. Tribeca is Not a theme park. — Charles Eshelman on New Plans for Canal Room?

Sounds like heaven...sounds like a portal to heaven, omgosh...I heard that before...somethings happening people. — Abel on The Wailing of One World Trade Center

This is very similar to the sound that emanated from the Truffles building when it was first built. I don't know exactly what caused it, but we were told it was not the wind. They eventually fixed it, but after Sandy it began again, and again they were able to eliminate it. It did take a lot of complaining directly to the building manager though. — HCR on The Wailing of One World Trade Center

Very eerie during Sandy... — Nicole on The Wailing of One World Trade Center

Re: the wind by 1 and 7, not the wailing I've read that large buildings have a waterfall effect at their bases when hit by winds, which results in turbulence. Then there is the wind tunnel effect from two large buildings funneling wind between them. The wind on the plaza by the original WTC was terrible in Winter, as was the turbulence. Can't believe they recreated those problems, and maybe made them worse, TBD. — Anna on The Wailing of One World Trade Center