I had set up a Ninja trial class for my very excited son this past Saturday. I am certain I confirmed the date. We went to the gym to find an "open" sign in the window of a darkened, locked storefront. My son was very disappointed and so was I. Hoping this was just a communication problem. I have yet to hear back after leaving a message. — J on New Kid on the Block: Paul Ruggeri Gymnastics

You really don't know much about real estate. Anyone can count vacant stores. Most landlord's really want to lease their space, at fair rents and are marketing spaces to do so. They do NOT benefit by having vacancy. They are not holding out for more $$. Fact is there is a scarcity of quality retailers looking for space. Many retailers are under experienced, and don't have the operating capital to survive. Others just plain suck. K-Mart, Children's Place, Sears, etc. On the other hand, look at the quantity of boxes delivered to your lobby daily. STOP price checking at the local store then ordering on-line to save $2.00. SHOP LOCAL! — Craig S on Ghost Town: The 2018 Retail-Vacancy Report

They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot, and then condos. :-) — James on Valentine No. 65

Actually, we don't NEED them. That much is clear from Eric's post as well as from reporting on this subject in other publications. Developers keep building and selling posh mega-apartments. Tribecans still wear expensive clothes and drive expensive cars. Kids keep going away all summer. Tribeca might never be able to sustain much retail in its environs. What Tribeca and neighborhoods across NYC need is vibrant activity at street level. It's time to look for new sources. — Manhattanmommie on Ghost Town: The 2018 Retail-Vacancy Report

Locanda Verde and Gigino have nothing to worry about! I suspect some will dine at Il Mulino just to try it out but my guess is most of them will not return. — DTMOM on First Impressions: Il Mulino

Earlier this year, Il Mulino Prime on West Broadway provided us with one of the most disappointing dining experiences at 2x what we normally spend on dinner (and we enjoy indulging). The food was barely edible and the service was horrendous. The only thing worse were their wine pours. We are generally understanding if things come up, but this bordered offensive. That said we were not overly excited to hear that Greenwich was opening even though it was around the corner. The prices and reviews above further support that we won't be taking a chance on it. Seems like they need to stick with the original on W3. — RG on First Impressions: Il Mulino

In the 1970's and early '80s, the many vacant lots in Tribeca were grassy wildflower fields. When they became parking lots, I missed the beautiful intrusion of nature everywhere. Then I became nostalgic for the parking lots, when big buildings replaced them. — Jane on Valentine No. 65

What's the answer to this problem?? Local shops make a neighborhood- we need them big time! — Vivian on Ghost Town: The 2018 Retail-Vacancy Report

the wanna be crowd will unfortunately keep this place alive despite the food and service being so under par. the bartender had a nice personality, only redeeming feature. In short its a ripoff that sucks, and sucks bad. — Anthony on First Impressions: Il Mulino

Went the other night for the first time and the service and the food were way below expectations...huge disappointment. Article is spot on - waiters were clueless, place was a sauna and food was not good...even at half the price I wouldn’t go back. — JT on First Impressions: Il Mulino

Why does the bottom portion of the Freedom Tower seem to resemble original WTC ? Did any of the original WTC remain in tact ? — Kimberly on Nosy Neighbor: Why Does 1 World Trade Center Look So Unfinished at Night?

I think you're thinking of the rest of Tribeca as it is today..he's a super fun, positive, entertaining guy inspiring a whole generation of creative thinkers and creators (who can't and will never be able to afford to live in soul-less Tribeca)..and accumulated several BILLION views while he was at it. — Mikey on Casey Neistat’s New Tribeca “Factory”

Ciao Rocco, molto orgogliosa della tua grandiosa carriera, non so se ti ricordi di me, ma sei anche stato a casa mia, mi ai regalato una fruttiera, ancora c'è l'ho, veramente auguri, non avevo dubbi che avresti fatto successo, spero che sei felice ,ciao rocco — Maria on Spotlight: Roc

Wonderful post, we need more green! — Kimberly on Valentine No. 65

You should dig in on this new hair salon and it’s background of “dazzlers” https://www.razzledazzlebarbershop.com Fits right in to tribeca !!! — Fabio on Seen & Heard: Another New Barbershop

Good Morning Erik, this sign is located on the door of the Happy Science USA center at 79 Franklin Street, with regards, Sonia Stock — Sonia F. Stock on Where in Tribeca…?

We ate at the bar and I thought the pastas we had were great. I agree, though, the prices are out of control. — tribeca16 on First Impressions: Il Mulino

First off, the entire physical culture permit zoning regime, designed to deter brothels, is as woefully puritanical and outdated as the recently repealed cabaret laws were. Just the name "physical culture" retains a musty odor from the early 20th century. Many of the empty stores could rent as gyms without it, just as there is already an exception by DoB for small yoga studios with no showers. (Many existing gyms have no physical culture permit of any kind.). That said, it is the exercise component that makes it a place of physical culture, not the presence of showers. Second, it seems clear from the BIS that the building owner did the work to file and get permits and convert the space but never got a final Certificate of Occupancy when they did the conversion in 2008, only temporary CofOs that expired. It seems to have been clear to the tenant as well. (There was even a (still) open Violation relating to this issue back in 2008 - 34587929X). Third, even the previous tenant was able to get a physical culture permit without a final CofO. https://tribecacitizen.wpengine.com/2016/07/14/cb1-tribeca-committee-the-unofficial-minutes-july-2016/ Fourth, the establishment apparently was not padlocked when violation 35250398Z was issued in April this year. The DoB violation acknowledged the work permit and merely directed that a CofO be obtained. ("NOTED: CELLAR LEVEL & SUB-CELLAR ARE OCCUPIED/CONVERTED INTO PHYSICAL CULTURE ESTABLISHMENT PER JOB #102637942-ALT01.") Having other open violations on the building does not help one to get the final CofO. Is there a Landlord's penalty provision in the lease in the event of a shutdown or padlocking of the premises by DoB? If not, there should have been. Fifth, one can rent a temporary AC. It's a pain but it beats the alternative, and the cost goes onto the suit against the landlord anyhow. This is a bad situation, and hopefully a resolution can be reached. — James on Tribeca Health & Fitness Is Fighting for Its Life

I really like ur page. I've worked in TriBeCa for fifteen years now. RIP to the following: Ramos, Greys Papaya, diner on the corner of Chambers & Church, Raccoon Lodge, Popeyes, walk thru window Burger King on Church Street, Petit Abeile, the Soup Nazi by Chambers, Pearl Paints.......lotta RIPs. — AJ on Seen & Heard: The Renovated Film Forum

Why, thank you. Food photography is an art, and (but?) there’s a reason professionals don’t shoot in the restaurant’s actual light. That said, I would be absolutely fine with a simple/rustic presentation (such as at I Sodi) if the food was good. This food was bad at any price. — Erik Torkells on First Impressions: Il Mulino

In fact, this is a good time to say I follow your Insta, and I love your photography. — David G Imber on First Impressions: Il Mulino

I am a native New Yorker living in the Village and working in Tribeca. It is very hard to duplicate something that is simply the best. Il Mulino on West 3rd Street is the original and I have observed over the years they have opened other locations but none equals the original, and here's why- Full disclosure- I'm vegetarian, but have brought many pescatarian and carnivore friends over the years- At West 3rd you can order any Italian dish. The menu means nothing. For example, I order the Eggplant Parmesan- yes it's $36 but it is simply the best available. They are the only restaurant I have ever been to that after reading all the specials the waiter says "plus whatever else you would like to have". Admittedly I haven't tried Greenwich yet, but I called and they said "right now we are only serving what's on the menu" So "stay tuned" we shall see. Duplicating the best is not so easy. — Bruce on First Impressions: Il Mulino

Much of my life is spent in Japan, where the perspective on food is entirely different, so I try to avoid direct comparison. That said, the presentation here is a flat-out disgrace. In all sincerity, it depresses me to look at those images, and it's not a comment on your photography at all. — David G Imber on First Impressions: Il Mulino

I am truly baffled why anyone in their right mind would go to Il Mulino, unless dining on a corporate tab; duping an unsuspecting companion on a first date; or attributing no value to money (a la at a strip club). The owner of Il Mulino, however, is obviously a genius. Another Il Mulino exists 6 blocks away. Why not wantonly reap profits from two "I-live-close-to-Taylor Swift" neighborhoods for a few years? Nauseating addition to an increasingly nauseating place to live. #bringsouthsback — Derek on First Impressions: Il Mulino

It might seem nice to have an empty Trader Joe's, but presumably if it doesn't reach critical mass eventually it will close down....So for those that care about the existence of the store, it's important that we actually support it with our business.... (I haven't been inside it yet myself, so I should speak to myself about that) — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Some of Spring Street Park Is Open