On Saturday, May 12, the Downtown Alliance and Council Member Margaret Chin brought together volunteers to spruce up Wall Street Park and take part in family-friendly activities at its fifth annual Spring Community Day.

Hundreds of volunteers helped plant 300 annuals around the park, also known as Mannahatta Park, between Water and South streets. Volunteers also planted flowers at 25 tree beds along Water Street. The planting is part of the Downtown Alliance’s year-round Going Green program, dedicated to building an environmentally sustainable Lower Manhattan.

The event’s lead sponsor was Consolidated Edison. Other sponsors and partners were the FiDi Association, Whole Foods, Crumbs Bake Shop, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Partnership for Parks, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, New York City Council Member Margaret Chin, Community Board 1, Spruce Street School, and the Blue School.

Participating volunteers entered to win a $50 gift basket with goodies from Financier. The Downtown Alliance also provided apple juice, cookies and cupcakes thanks to Crumbs and Whole Foods, and a booth for kids to pot and decorate small plants.

Click HERE to see pictures from the event.

By Kelly Rush

Where the children go, the schools follow. In a sure sign that Lower Manhattan is adding more families than ever (our residential population has doubled in the last 10 years), a new child care center and pre-school has opened off Washington Street across from Battery Park City. Just up the Hudson in North Battery Park City, Harry’s Italian has officially opened its doors, thus completing the restaurant row openings near Goldman Sachs. As usual, if you see any new retailers or spot changes to a long-time friend, please email me at tre@downtownny.com and I’ll check them out.

The Learning Experience Children’s Academy – 20 West Street (Entrance on 28 Washington Street)
www.thelearningexperience.com | (212) 797-1110

Mr. Bubbles the elephant roams the halls, walls are decorated in a fairy tale theme, and everyone gets a nap. This is the blissful life of a child enrolled at The Learning Experience, a child care center and pre-school for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. The center will celebrate its grand opening May 19 from 10 AM to 3 PM with games, vendors, prizes and a ribbon ceremony. Center Director LaToya Dawkins said activities are play-based, and teach children how to explore and learn from their natural environments. At each stage of development, children are preparing for the next level, whether they are just spending time on their tummy building strength, getting potty-trained or learning words in Spanish or Mandarin.

Though the academy has more than 100 locations throughout the country, the West Street location is the first in Manhattan. The academy also has more than 30 years’ experience in the child care and pre-kindergarten business, and developed The Learning Experience Academic Program (LEAP), which consists of three classes separated by chronological age and developmental stage. Add in phonics instruction and curriculum that includes American Sign Language and children will be as prepared as possible when they enter kindergarten, Dawkins said.

Harry’s Italian Pizza Bar – 225 Murray Street
www.harrysitalian.com | (212) 608-1007

Chef Nick Angelis and restaurateur Peter Poulakakos are teaming up again, this time to bring a new pizza parlor to a community hungry for some more Italian. The restaurant features both round and square pies with toppings such as meatballs, prosciutto or broccoli rabe. Pastas include a gnocchi, a seafood linguine and a manicotti. Or, enjoy an entrée such as chicken parmesan, veal saltimbocca, or a filet of sole. Harry’s also offers a variety of wines for the perfect pairing.

Delivery and takeout will be available throughout Lower Manhattan and a weekend brunch will be served on Saturdays and Sundays. This new venture is the fourth pizza bar and third outpost of the “Harry’s Italian” brand, said Kate Domaingue, who represents the group. Angelis and Poulakakos first partnered to create Adrienne’s Pizza Bar and later opened Harry’s Italian Family Style on Gold Street as well as a location in Rockefeller Center.

A lot has changed in the Financial District since Grotto Pizzeria opened in 1986, but one thing remains constant: Mike Tempera’s commitment to a good slice of pizza.

“Slices are the most popular item,” said owner Tempera, who has expanded his menu from a page of pizza varieties to seven pages of pastas, salads, ciabattas and even burritos during his business’ long tenure.

The basement-level restaurant also added evening hours to accommodate the growing number of residents in the neighborhood, and now counts 15 different slices, including a bacon and jalapeño number that is a hit with regulars.

Most of all, customers value the small-town touch of the pizza place. “We tend to know people by name, and we remember their orders,” said Tempera. “When people find us, we keep them.”

Grotto Pizzeria & Restaurant

69 New Street

212.809.6990

www.thegrottonyc.com

With only a week to go before Mother’s Day, you’ve got multiple ways to show your appreciation for Mom in Lower Manhattan. The Downtown Alliance has compiled a list of special events and dining options for you to celebrate Mother’s Day 2012 in the district:

SHOPPING:

J&R Mother’s Day Shopping Event May 5th and 6th
23 Park Row
(212) 238-9000

Not sure what to get Mother’s Day? Come down to J & R’s two-day shopping event on May 5th and 6th and J & R will help you out! Skip the flowers this year and get her something a little more cutting edge — such as a tablet, digital camera, or mp3 player. Receive a pearl necklace with any purchase of $200 or more. This is an in-store-only offer available both days, while supplies last.

Bloom
255 Murray Street
www.bloomflowers.com|(646) 414-6269

The newly opened Bloom luxury flower and interior shop is a great place to purchase something to brighten mom’s day. The boutique sells unique flower and terrarium arrangements with one-of-a-kind gifts like throw pillows, scented candles from Christian Tortu and coffee table books as well as furniture for the home and garden.

MORE FLOWER SHOPS: City Blossoms, Downtown Florist, Eden Flowers, Flowers of the World, John Street Florist, and L’Atelier Des Fleurs

Hallmark Gold Crown
140 Church Street
www.hallmark.com | (212) 227-3674

A simple Mother’s Day card can’t be beat to show how much you care. Every mom likes to hear she’s doing a great job.

MORE GREETING CARDS: American Greetings, Diamond’s Hallmark and Papyrus

DINING:

Statue Cruises
Pier 40
(201) 604-2800

Enjoy wonderful cuisine, complimentary glass of champagne and live entertainment as you sail along the scenic New York Harbor. Help your mother indulge by relishing a two-hour yacht cruise with a full brunch buffet for $57.50 per person. A three-hour cruise is also available with a four-course seated dinner, DJ entertainment and one rose per mother for $99 per person.

Blue Planet Grill
120 Greenwich Street
www.bpgnyc.com | (212) 566-8300

Come to Blue Planet Grill with your mother and family and celebrate the special day together. Also, receive complimentary glass of wine with your meal.

Francois Payard Bakery
210 Murray Street
www.fpbnyc.com | (212) 566-8300

Indulge your mother with Francois Payard’s decadent pastries. The French pastry chef has mastered the art of sweets, and his Battery Park City location will transport your mother to faraway France.

MORE SWEETS: Fika Espresso Bar, Financier Patisserie, Godiva Chocolatier, La Maison du Chocolat and Leonidas Belgian Chocolates

Vintry
57 Stone Street | (212) 480-9800 | www.vintrynyc.com
230 Murray Street | (212) 240-9553 | www.vintryfinewines.com

Vintry luxury wine bar, now in two great locations, offers 80 wines by the taste, glass or bottle as well as over 230 different whiskies. Step into the distinctive, handcrafted interior and show your mother you appreciate her sophisticated palate.

MORE WINE & LIQUOR: Fulton Wine and Liquor, California Wine Merchants, New York Wine Exchange, Pasanella and Son Vintners, New York Vintners, Financial District Wine and Liquor, and Rosetta Wines

EVENTS:

Spring Thyme Spa
40 Exchange Place
www.springthymeny.com/specials | (212) 385-4937

Help mom get that much-needed relaxation she never finds time for at Spring Thyme Spa. Mother’s Day services include aromatherapy hot oil massage, aromatherapy hydrating facial, eye and lip moisture booster, hand and foot treatment – all for $170. Also choose from varying kinds of massages.

Bodies Exhibition Health Screenings
19 Fulton Street
(212) 732-8257

Show mom you care by making sure she’s healthier than ever! With overwhelming schedules and constant care of others, moms often forget to worry about their own health.  In honor of Mother’s Day and National Women’s Health Week (May 13th – May 19th), take mom to the BODIES exhibition on Saturday, May 12th. There you can  learn more about staying heart healthy. The event runs from 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

While visiting 4 World Trade Center to see the Space Shuttle Enterprise fly-by last week, we were able to capture a few other great snapshots of Lower Manhattan beyond the construction on the 49th floor.

Above is an aerial view of the plaza in front of 7 World Trade Center – where stands the beautiful, mirror-polished, stainless steel sculpture, Balloon Flower, by artist Jeff Koons.

[Photo by Jeremy Schneider]

Lower Manhattan may not be famous for its Mexican heritage, but it knows how to celebrate when the occasion demands. In honor of Cinco de Mayo on Saturday, plenty of restaurants (including those on wheels) will be offering specials and the South Street Seaport will be hosting a special fete of its own to commemorate the Battle of Puebla.

At The Seaport, come visit Mex Fest, which takes place at Pier 16 from noon to 7 PM, and includes food trucks offering Mexican-themed dishes in addition to their usual fare. Trucks include: Luke’s Lobster, Treats Truck, Kimchi Taco, Coolhaus, Frites’n’Meats, Gorilla Cheese, Schnitzel & Things, Wafels & Dinges, Taim Mobile, Milk Truck, Kelvin Slush, Souvlaki GR, Mexico Blvd, Eddie’s Pizza and Big D’s Grub Truck.

Cowgirl Sea-Horse (259 Front Street) is offering “Cinco de Derby” specials in honor of both Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, including a complimentary ham, biscuits and Benedictine finger sandwiches during the run for the roses. Margaritas and burritos also will be in large supply.

The restaurants of Stone Street, including Mexican restaurant Mad Dog & Beans, are getting ready to welcome people. Banners proclaiming Cinco de Mayo are draped across the street, and tables, chairs and umbrellas are waiting to provide patrons with a comfortable place to sit, sip and nosh.

The Cinco de Mayo weekend extravaganza at Mad Dog will kick off with a Friday Preview Party and will continue into Saturday, May 5th. A Mariachi Band will be serenading patrons on both Friday and Saturday and guests who attend the festivities will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win one of three $1,000 trip vouchers. There will also be an ipad giveaway as well as other freebies sponsored by Corona, Corona Light, Herradura, and Sauza Tequila.

Yesterday, Downtown Alliance President Elizabeth H. Berger and Chairman Robert R. Douglass joined the Very Reverend Dr. John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey at a ceremony to rename the British Garden at Hanover Square to be called The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden.

The Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden in Lower Manhattan’s Hanover Square commemorates the enduring friendship and unity between the British, the Commonwealth and the United States of America and its people.  The landscaped Garden is both a gift to the people of New York City and a living memorial to the many British and Commonwealth victims who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

During the ceremony, the Dean blessed and unveiled a paving stone with the Garden’s new name. The relaxing space was designed to provide a peaceful escape for quiet reflection for the people of New York and visitors and includes plants with long-term viability to withstand the changing seasons, reminding visitors that the cycle of life does goes on.

The Queen Elizabeth II September 11^th Garden’s motto –  “Sowing the Seeds of Friendship and Peace” – represents a promise to honor the memory of those lost while looking to growth and progress for the future.

In attendance at the event were New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Consul Generals from various Commonwealth Countries, including Australian Consul General Phil Scanlan and Canadian Consul General John Prato, representatives of the Board of the British Memorial Garden Trust, Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner William Castro, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Mayor Bradford Billet, Her Majesty’s Consul-General New York Danny Lopez, and 9/11 victims’ family members.

For further details, visit www.queenelizabethgarden.org. For pictures of the event click HERE.

Your vote can help to preserve history in Lower Manhattan.

New York City is the seventh metropolitan area to be selected to participate in Partners in Preservation, a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country.

The program previously made $6.5 million in grants for preservation projects in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Greater Boston, Seattle-Puget Sound and Saint Paul/Minneapolis.

The partnership seeks to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic sites at the heart of their communities.

Citywide, 40 projects from the five boroughs are competing in the contest, which runs until May 21. And in Lower Manhattan, you’ve got some great choices:

Restoration of the entrance area and statue of George Washington. Federal Hall National Memorial rests on the site of profound moments in American history, including the inauguration of George Washington and the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Honoring the founding of American democracy and the historic power of the Port of New York, this local treasure strives to advance civic education and promote tourism and economic development, in a still-revitalizing Lower Manhattan.

National Museum of the American Indian. Renovation of first-floor office space to create an education classroom.  Located at the foot of the historic Algonquin trade route (now, Broadway), the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is home to the National Museum of the American Indian. One of the only free museums in the city, the Museum is attracting a growing number of visitors while meeting the needs of the community and contributing to growth in Lower Manhattan.

Ellis Island South Side Hospitals. Restoration of windows in connecting corridors. Ellis Island is the iconic symbol of America’s immigrant roots, having welcomed 12 million new Americans by 1954.The currently stabilized but un-restored buildings of the US Public Health Service on the island’s south side treated more than one million of those immigrants and are the only remaining example of a pavilion style hospital, designed to control the spread of disease.

You can vote more than once, but only once a day. Just visit www.PartnersinPreservation.com or www.Facebook.com/PartnersinPreservation

The four projects that receive the most public votes will have their grant requests fully funded, and the remainder of the $3 million in grants will be given to a number of the other sites after review by American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and an advisory committee composed of civic and preservation leaders from New York.

A group of very lucky Downtown Alliance employees were invited to view the Space Shuttle Enterprise as it flew past the Statue of Liberty and above the Hudson River, heading for JFK airport before it reaches its permanent home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Everyone who got to see the shuttle fly by was lucky, but our good fortune came from our vantage point: the 49th floor of 4 WTC.

We donned hardhats and bright yellow vests and stepped into an elevator that cruised up the side of the building. We rose through the air to the 48th floor, side by side with the workers who are constructing this behemoth. From there it was one more flight up by foot to the viewing deck on the 49th floor.

To view more pics of the trip, the shuttle passing, the construction itself and some of our favorite Lower Manhattan buildings (seen from above),  click HERE. And if you didn’t get to see the shuttle passing, you can check out the video below. Enjoy!

Shine Guo didn’t want Affina Beauty & Spa to be another high-end service for the elite. Instead, she created a menu of manicures, facials and body treatments for everyone from executives to students.

“There are a lot of people looking for an affordable spa with good service,” said Guo, Affina’s general manager.

That doesn’t mean you won’t get the pomp and pampering you’d expect from an expensive spa. The scent of lavender wafts throughout the calming, grey-colored space. Treatments include a green tea body wrap to cleanse toxins and a chocolate sugar scrub for exfoliation. And waxes are carefully selected depending on skin type.

“Not every wax will work for everyone,” said Guo, explaining that Affina carries four waxes, including a zinc-based dip for customers with a history of ingrown hairs.

Affina Beauty & Spa

125 Church Street

212.233.8822

www.affinaspa.com