They're actually east of Zuccotti Park. — JCM on FiDi’s Next Light Show

DOT has a spec online for water blasting. Perhaps that is what was going on? Water Blasting for Surface Preparation & Marking Removal 09/15/15 Revised 07/14/2017 DESCRIPTION.  This work shall consist of cleaning and preparing Portland cement and bituminous pavement surfaces for the application of reflectorized pavement marking materials utilizing a combination of grinding and water blasting – both with vacuum recovery of debris.  Examples of pavement markings requiring this item include, but are not limited to, paint, MMA, polyurea, thermoplastic and epoxy marking materials. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/pavement-marking-specs-surface-prep.pdf — James on Seen & Heard: More Redevelopment in Hudson Square

The problem, in part, is that cobblestones aren't designed for extremely high traffic areas like the mass of cars constantly spilling out of the Holland Tunnel onto Laight. It would look weird to have just the Laight-overlap part of Greenwich Street be paved rather than have cobblestones, but anything short of that, you're just going to have to repair them every year or two, because there's simply too much wear and tear from big trucks and high vehicle volume... — Scott on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

Per the NYC Department of Transportation's Street Design Manual regarding granite block (a k a cobblestones): "DOT generally maintains this material in historic districts, but any third party that excavates it [e.g., to install or maintain underground utilities and pipes] must restore it in kind or as directed by the Commissioner pursuant to Rules of the City of New York, Title 34, Section 2-11(e)(12)(vii)" — James on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

Those cobblestones were replaced several years ago. I'm not sure when, but they did quite a few streets. Whoever replaced them should be held responsible and redo them . Wonder if the is a warranty ! — John on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

Agreed. Has this been discussed with the Community Board? What about Landmarks? We should not so carelessly destroy historic buildings. — Marcus on The High Cost of Disney’s Move to Hudson Square

"Napery" comes from the same root word as "apron", which was actually "a napron" before it was misheard by middle English speakers and rebracketed through juncture loss as "an apron." — James on In the News: More on Nonna Beppa

Best of luck! I’m not normally one to gravitate towards the enthusiasm of a summer day, but will definitely give it a shot. The happy hour is during what hours? — Lisa Stefanelli on New Kid on the Block: A Summer Day Café

Developers should be able to save the facades of the existing buildings and incorporate their adjustments behind and with LIMITED air rights, above. This has been accomplished successfully in cities like Charleston, SC. and in other areas like the civil war buildings in the Brooklyn Navey Yard. There needs to be a community jury that holds Disney and Trinity accountable for the next visual direction- or are we just beholden to the next enchanted castle (franchise look) that has dumbed down architectural integrity and created a soulless urban sprawl. What action can we take? Has a special committee been created that you know of that actually has rights- if not, what suggestions can be offered to insure the ‘change is good’ mantra. — TriBeCa Native on The High Cost of Disney’s Move to Hudson Square

We have been twice already. It's great. Still haven't tried everything on the menu that sound enticing! The hospitality is so warm. Wouldn't be surprised to find it too hard to get into as others discover it, sadly. — Elizabeth on In the News: More on Nonna Beppa

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" had a scene about it: https://youtu.be/ls1XtQw6gqQ — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

So … What does a captain do? And how much is one supposed to tip? — KP on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

Tipping the captain...not that uncommon at high-end, old-school restaurants. The last time we ate at Il Mulino uptown, there was a line for a captain tip on the statement. — Makes you go "hmmmm".... on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

We didn't tip the captain. We sat at the bar and I wasn't even sure who the captain was...so we decided to just tip the bartender generously. — Andy on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

Darn. When you mentioned the DOT was busy painting streets, I was hoping you meant the much-needed traffic light/crosswalk lines where Duane meets Greenwich. — Josey on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

Did you tip the captain? — Ivan on Seen & Heard: Tipping the Captain at Il Mulino

"I am selling candy to keep myself out of trouble." Is that a threat? — Marcus on Seen & Heard: Remembering Nobu Downtown’s Chef

Thanks, fixed it. I have a tendency to type the opposite direction of what I mean. — Erik Torkells on First Impressions: Manhatta

Is that a typo? If the views are to the north and the east, doesn't the restaurant have to be on the northeast side of the building, not the south side? — Leo on First Impressions: Manhatta

That's the extent of what I heard, but it's from a pretty good source (whom I can't reveal). — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: Big Residential Conversion Postponed

If a drug dealer is so hard up on cash that he needs to send out 8 year olds to peddle m&m's for $1, he needs a career change. I get as annoyed as anyone by some of the more aggressive peddlers, but unless they're committing a serious offense, why not just say "no thanks" and you each go on your way. Regardless of whether they're trying to raise money for their basketball team or they're trying to hustle a few bucks to buy a new pair of sneakers, selling candy to make money is better than pretty much anything else they can be doing. — lowphat on Seen & Heard: Remembering Nobu Downtown’s Chef

Hi, I'm also wondering how you heard about the postponement of 250 Church. Any additional information would be much appreciated. — GEM on Seen & Heard: Big Residential Conversion Postponed

Xeno did in fact plant it and that is the third patch for this year.. the western union building operators don't cross the street or do anything outside their immediate footprint... — 1Worth on Where in Tribeca…?

The candy scam is old news. Here is a 2004 (!) story from Gothamist: "We've all heard it. A short, barely adolescent boy or girl barges into the car and shouts: 'Excuse me ladies and gentlemen. I am selling candy to raise money for my basketball team's uniforms. Candy is a dollar each. And usually they only have the peanut M&Ms. "General consensus (and by that, we mean what the people on the Straphangers message boards say) is that it's a scam. A lot of these kids get candy in bulk and sell it at a profit, and make some pretty good money. Besides, by Gothamist's calculations, two or three basketball seasons have come and gone since we first saw one of these kids clamor into the car and demand our charity in exchange for chocolate. "Interestingly, if you've noticed, lately the kids have changed their tune: 'Excuse me ladies and gentlemen. I will be honest with you. I am not selling candy for my basketball team. I am selling candy to keep myself out of trouble.' It's hard to argue with honesty. We'd like it more if you had plain M&Ms left, though." http://gothamist.com/2004/04/15/those_kids_on_the_subway.php — james on Seen & Heard: Remembering Nobu Downtown’s Chef

They've been on the train for years selling candies from boxes for basketball camp or some other sports thing - usually they do this at night during rush hour. — Sherri Rosen on Seen & Heard: Remembering Nobu Downtown’s Chef