"Gitano [...] racked up a total of 206 violation points in an inspection this week, leading the Health Department to close it down. Violations related to refrigeration, sewage disposal, bathroom issues, and more.” http://www.grubstreet.com/2018/07/doh-shutters-new-tropical-hot-spot-near-the-holland-tunnel.html — James on First Impressions: Gitano

At 2 Hudson Trinity already has city approval to build "a 430-foot-tall, 300,000-square-foot residential building [... on] a plot framed by Sixth Avenue and Canal, Grand and Varick streets. The property will include a 444-seat public school at its base." Why would they ever give up that long-sought approval to start from scratch for a different use and user? http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20141103/REAL_ESTATE/141039945/trinity-to-erect-apartment-towers — James on The High Cost of Disney’s Move to Hudson Square

I third that! — Dixie on Manhatta Is Taking Reservations

I second that! — Adam on Manhatta Is Taking Reservations

The Gitano lot is much smaller—and you can hardly blame Disney for not wanting to be on Canal/Varick/Sixth. Information on Trinity's Hudson Square properties is at http://www.trinitynyc.com/properties.html, and across the bottom of that page are links to the four "development sites": 2 Hudson Square, as the Gitano lot is called; 4 Hudson Square, where Disney is building; 122 Varick, the parking lot at the southeast corner of Dominick; and 559 Greenwich, "a surface parking lot and a low-rise garage" on the west side of Greenwich between King and Charlton. — Erik Torkells on The High Cost of Disney’s Move to Hudson Square

How big is Trinity's empty plot of land on Grand Street where Gitano is now located? Why can't Disney use that? — KP on The High Cost of Disney’s Move to Hudson Square

I always enjoy reminiscing about when those counterfeit bag sellers operated out of their vans parked on Lispenard. Seeing gaggles of clearly out of town ladies climbing into large, shabby, tinted out vans to look at the wares with random sellers they had just met on the street was always so astonishing to me. — en_b on Seen & Heard: Zutto’s Reopening Date

Awww. How ‘bout some audio? — SW on Valentine No. 63

Eeewww. — SW on In the News: Police Action on Counterfeit Peddlers

The worst idling in our neighborhood is the FDNY ambulance that sits, spewing filthy diesel fumes, all night long outside the Starbucks on Murray Street at the corner of Church. Sometimes the entire block stinks of smoke. — Will Meyerhofer on In the News: Three Stars for Frenchette

I live one block away from the triangle. It's in complete disrepair. The cement is cracked, the sign has fallen down and the foliage is uncared for. Nobody ever sits there because it's ugly AND there's no place to sit. If a developer is willing to pay for a re-design and maintain the space, which would be in the developer's interest, what's the downside? Also, the traffic there is only bad for about two hours a day. The Roxy has outdoor seating and I see people sitting there at all times of the day. — Elisa on Developer Files Plans for Church Street Pocket Park

Trinity's Hudson Square portfolio is worth almost $4 billion. They are not very much troubled by the thought of grassroots opposition. One recent Trinity head has worked as the head of various City land use agencies in 5 different NYC mayoral administrations, for example, so they probably have just a little bit of political clout. — James on The High Cost of Disney’s Move to Hudson Square

Shopping at Trader Joe’s is a pleasure. And no lines, even on a weekend morning. I’m never going back to Whole Foods. — Meg on Seen & Heard: Momofuku Karaoke

What if the City could get a couple of people to start a member-supported not-for-profit group? You know, one where people would pay money towards maintenance and insurance? In return they would get a key to a lock to be put on the park gate. How does that sound? — James on In the News: City Winery Has 17 Months

Where are the downtown “preservation “ groups recently formed to save Tribeca, SoHo, and Hudson Square? Trinity and Disney aren’t exactly mystery entities difficult to track. — Jean Grillo on The High Cost of Disney’s Move to Hudson Square

Good luck getting volunteers to "maintain" the dog park. — Jonah on In the News: City Winery Has 17 Months

A lot of action at Attraversiamo tonight. — James on Seen & Heard: Interlude Café

Unless you know something the rest of us don't, this is extremely premature. There has been no indication that Square Diner is selling. — Erik Torkells on Transit Trading Has Left Tribeca

RIP Square Diner — No more diner on Transit Trading Has Left Tribeca

Nothing for vegetarians on the Manhatta menu? It was the reason we stopped going to North End Grille after loving it for years. — Matt on Manhatta Is Taking Reservations

According to Gothamist, Cortland Alley in Tribeca is the most filmed alley in NYC. http://gothamist.com/2018/07/12/cortlandt_alley_photos_nyc.php#photo-1 — TribecaMom on Manhatta Is Taking Reservations

They may gain flexibility just from buying the air rights over Square Diner, depending on the overbuilding and other zoning considerations. — James on Transit Trading Has Left Tribeca

God I hate it when a hard working server who is on the front lines of anyone's mood who happens to walk in off the street is stolen from. That is crappy. — TG on In the News: City Winery Has 17 Months

Oh counterfeiters, calling all counterfeiters - don't worry, not everyone hates you. You guys are a busy lot and I like to see you praying to Allah. Canal Street and its surroundings will be so boring when you are all gone. — TG on In the News: Police Action on Counterfeit Peddlers

Whole Foods no longer has rainchecks for sale items which are “out of stock” when on sale. I went there the other day to buy something on non-Prime sale, granted it was the last day but I went in the morning. I asked the associate to check if they have any in the back. He said no, it’s out of stock. We all know it’s a big lie because the next morning when it was no longer on sale it magically appeared. I asked for a rain check for the sale item and there is now a sign by the service desk that they no longer have rainchecks. Also on two seperate occasions where fruit or salad had a non-Prime sale sign the cashier charged me the regular price. I returned the next day for a refund and got it. Welcome Trader Joe’s, a bit of a walk and worth it especially for non-perishables. I do wish that Best Market would have decent fruit and salad which usually are well past their prime. — Dixie on Seen & Heard: Momofuku Karaoke