03/09/2010 at 8:00 am

Little Lad’s, Big Flavor

little-lads

When I come to work the thing I really look forward to is lunchtime because I know I will be going to my favorite place. That place is Little Lad’s Vegan Restaurant.  I have been going to eat there since it opened in 2006.  Before discovering this place I used to eat at different salad bars in the area.

I didn’t even know about Little Lad’s until somebody told me about it.  It’s located on the lower level of my building, 120 Broadway.  Recently they put a sign in the lobby with the name of the restaurant, letting people know it was there, but before that if you didn’t know about it, it was hard to find.

I loved this place from the minute I walked in and felt right at home.  The people who work there are so nice and friendly and greet me by my name and ask me how I am when I walk in the door.  I am not a vegetarian or a vegan, but I love the food that they have.  I feel like I am eating a home-cooked meal.

They have a standard menu with sandwiches, veggie burgers and other things, but I love to have the buffet.  The price is a real bargain for what you get.  For $5.40, including tax, you get one plate and one bowl to fill with a choice of six hot dishes or you could make a salad from the salad bar or fruit salad with toppings such as granola and delicious sweet cream, which is vegan.  They also have a choice of two different kinds of soups.

What I love about it is that you never know what they will be serving.  Every day the food is different, which makes it interesting.  There are some dishes which are very popular, such as the macaroni and cheese.  The cheese tastes and looks like real cheese but it’s made from carrots and potatoes.  I don’t understand how they make it.  All I know is that it’s delicious.  I also love the butternut squash and the guacamole.

They also have an assortment of things for dessert such as fruit pies, cookies and something called Need’ems, which is hard for me to explain.  It is a little patty made from potatoes and other ingredients.  It looks like it is covered in chocolate, but it’s really carob.  They come in an assortment of flavors, two of which are orange-almond and peppermint.  There is something called Nice Creme which is vegan ice cream.  They also have different kinds of breads, rolls and crackers for sale and of course their famous popcorn, which comes in an assortment of flavors, but the most popular flavor is the herbal popcorn.

I would recommend that people try this place at least once and they might be pleasantly surprised just like I was.  The only negative thing I could say about it is that sometimes I eat too much because the food is just so delicious.

03/05/2010 at 12:10 pm

Daily Clips: March 5, 2010

Downtown Remains Stable in Down Market
Globe St. New York
Lower Manhattan’s commercial market is remaining stable as 2010 progresses, notwithstanding the specter of massive space givebacks as financial sector tenants downsize or vacate. A report by the Alliance for Downtown New York notes that the submarket continues to boast one of the lowest office vacancy rates in the US, while the area saw twice as many retail openings in 2009 as in 2008.

A Design Icon Stops Traffic in New York
Elle Decor
While a Four Seasons hotel tower is being built in Lower Manhattan, a marvelous piece of outdoor art does double duty as both a way to hide the construction and bring some fun to a New York neighborhood.

Thompson move to B.P.C. board is official
Downtown Express
Bill Thompson moved one step closer to taking over the Battery Park City Authority this week when the State Senate approved his appointment to the authority’s board.

Read all about the B.P.C. Library
Downtown Express
Only one thing is missing from Battery Park City’s sunny, spacious new library, set to open March 15: the musty smell of well-worn books.

A peek inside Corbin as subway construction proceeds
Downtown Express
To picture what the Corbin Building looked like when it opened more than 100 years ago, a little bit of imagination is required.

03/05/2010 at 11:26 am

Construction Update: 4 World Trade Center

IMG_0875

Construction work is progressing on 4 World Trade Center (foreground) as seen in this picture from March 3, 2010. Silverstein Properties, the developer, began work on the building in February 2008. The construction is now visible above street level. The building is expected to achieve LEED Gold status when it opens by 2012. For more information on 4 World Trade Center or any other construction projects, visit the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center at http://www.lowermanhattan.info Also visible in the background of this picture is the ongoing work at 1 World Trade Center, where steel has risen 200 feet above grade.

03/04/2010 at 1:00 pm

Our First Fight…

Hive Logo for Blog

So, the Hive has now been open for three months.  I find it hard to believe time has flown by so quickly when it seems like just a few short weeks ago I was fretting over all the little details.  While I’ve used this blog to rave about how great the Hive has been, all the new members who have started to call the Hive home, and the great programming we’ve put together, I think its okay to rant a little too!

We had our first big glitch last week when we ran into some Internet problems.  It all started when I decided to replace our router.  We purchased a much nicer router, waited for the Hive to clear out in the evening and went about the big switch.  It was great…until about 4:30pm the next day.  The Internet went caput at the end of the day, which started a flurry of phone calls.  Going back and forth between Cogent and our networking guys, we finally determined that we had a lemon of a router.  Unfortunately, with the onslaught of the real snowpocalypse, I was unsure when we could resolve the issue.  I trekked in the next morning, not sure if or when our tech support would be able to show up with the foot-plus of snow that came down in the area.  Fortunately, the moment is behind us and not only have some important lessons been learned, but we came out ahead in the end: our bandwidth is about five times faster than it was before.

We are also reviewing some of the steps we can take to prevent any future Internet problems.  I know how important high speed connection is to the small businesses and freelancers who are working from the Hive.  I was rather embarrassed when it happened, but I must say thanks to our members for being so helpful and understanding.  Many people chipped in to help and totally understood that sometimes these things just happen.  I am doing my best to ensure that it never happens again.

I can’t resist sharing news here too.  We just formed a meetup.com page where you can learn about all the events and programming we’re going to have.  You can find us at the Lower Manhattan Coworking Club here.  Find fellow friends of the Hive and like minded people –- and stay in the loop with all Hive related happenings!

03/02/2010 at 4:46 pm

Daily Clips: March 2, 2010

Letter: The Arts Downtown
The New York Post
The Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center site is a critically important project that will continue to spur the transformation of lower Manhattan into a vibrant, 24-7, mixed-use community that is better and brighter than ever before.

Experience Necessary: He Knows Where New Yorkers Hide
The New York Times
A Q&A with New York City Department of City Planning demographics and population guru Joe Salvo.

When the Waters Rise
New York Magazine
The MoMA challenged five architects present plans to combat NYC’s rising waters in a globally warmed future.

Brokelyn Ugly Building Contest Winner!
Brokelyn
And the winner is…

03/02/2010 at 10:03 am

For Dogs Who Care – There’s Doggy Daycare

Bruno

It was like sending your kid off to kindergarten for the first time. Got all of his shots? Check. Lunch? Check. Favorite toy along for the ride? Check.

Except in this case, Bruno was much younger than your average kindergartner. At six months –- three in dog years -– Bruno the Brussels Griffon was starting his first day of doggy daycare, and we chose a relatively new shop on Murray Street called The Paw Stop.

It wasn’t easy to watch those sad eyes and weight-of-the-world furrowed brow as he was led reluctantly past rows of chow and squeeze toys toward the ominous door at the back of the room.

But then, as I peered through the glass, it was obvious that Bruno’s trepidation turned into fascination. Already, he was ping-ponging across the large room, navigating the plastic jungle gym, sizing up all of his new classmates, testing the tiny trampoline-like devices to nap.

The Paw Stop –- which has since changed its name to Spot –- draws dozens of dogs each day, divided into two groups (large downstairs, smaller upstairs), some arriving on leashes while others via Spot’s taxi service.

On days when we’ve arrived before the 7am opening, Bruno paws at the front door and whimpers until he’s shepherded in. A loving crew of workers -– especially Robert, Eliza and Michelle –- seem to spark a tail-waggin’ frenzy.

And there are reports of his budding romances –- all G-rated, I’m told -– with a few of his friends.  Now, this would be easy for me to see if I had the time: Spot provides a doggy cam in which owners can watch their dog all day long; alas, there’s little time for me to check up on him, but I know he’s in good hands.

Since that first day, Spot is part of Bruno’s daily routine. He seems forlorn when inclement weather spurns his Downtown desires. When he returns the next day, it’s as if he’s a heralded hero, as all of his classmates gather around him when he bounds into the room. At those moments, the hair on his back and tail stands straight up.

And hours later, when dusk sets upon the city, Bruno literally collapses before the doggybag hits the subway on the ride home each day.

02/27/2010 at 4:26 pm

Picture Downtown

Picnick

Continuing our Lower Manhattan Summer Anticipation Series, here is an image of the line for Picnick’s BBQ Kiosk in Wall Street Park. MMMMMMMMMM.

02/26/2010 at 12:04 pm

Hive at 55 – Common Theme: Food?

Hive Logo for Blog

Here at the Hive we are definitely getting a variety of members. We’ve seen start-up companies, the occasional journalist, a lot of freelancers, and some small business owners who need last-minute conference space. These types of members offer a lot when it comes to networking, collaborating, and sharing resources.

But this week the Hive has a new member who offers more than business relationships – a bakery! That’s right, the Creative Marketing Director for a small, wholesale bakery will be working out of the Hive from time to time. She made a grand entrance earlier this week by treating us all to two boxes of delicious chocolate chip cookies. The coworkers here at the Hive have been hovering next to the cookies, emanating joyful sounds that testify to the tastiness of the treats. Now the members of the Hive are eager to know when Baked Invention/Sweet Chemistry will be dropping off that next box of cookies, brownies, or other treats, as they grow their business in Lower Manhattan. Stay tuned — we’ll post more information as their business develops!

In other food news, our second Member Lunch on Monday featured a great spread by Harry’s Italian, including baked ziti, eggplant parmigiana, chicken francese, salad, and Italian bread. Hive Member Garry Golden presented a discussion on the Future of Work to an interested crowd which enjoyed a pleasant meal and stimulating conversation. A few non-members came to the Hive for the presentation and the lunch, so they caught a glimpse of our great work environment. We will be hosting the next lunch on Monday, March 22, so mark your calendars for another delicious meal.

To continue my food-centric post, I visited Ulysses’ Folk House on Stone Street for their Monday Lobster Night with a group of friends, and we were all impressed by the value and freshness of the crustaceans. And for those beer lovers out there, did you know Ulysses’ has a cask keg? Well they do, and I enjoyed a fine Otter Creek Ale. I was impressed by the general beer selection, and the knowledgeable barkeep correctly described the cask process to my friends!

02/26/2010 at 8:34 am

Daily Clips: February 26, 2010

Urstadt, a neighborhood founder, reflects on his last days in Battery Park City
Downtown Express
A profile of Battery Park City Authority founder Charles Urstadt that features comments from Downtown Alliance Chairman Robert R. Douglass.

City reveals Chambers St. detours
Downtown Express
Two water main projects will close parts of Hudson and Chambers Sts. for years, and Tribeca residents are worried.

Roosevelt Tram closing for 6 months
New York Post
On March 1, the Roosevelt Island tram will close for six months.

Video: A Miniature New York
Gothamist
Using tilt-shift photography, artist Sam O’Hare created the time-lapse film “The Sandpit” from more than 35,000 pictures taken during a single week last August. With computer editing software, O’Hare manipulated his photos so only narrow planes of focus remained sharp, creating an effect that makes the city look like a model.

02/25/2010 at 7:14 pm

Picture Downtown

DSC00813

I call this piece, “Lush Lower Manhattan” and is it ever. Just a reminder of how nice it is down here when we aren’t wading through February slush.