01/19/2012 at 3:03 pm

Meet a Lower Manhattan Business: Bowne & Co. Stationers

Start the presses! Lower Manhattan’s historic famed printing shop, Bowne & Co. Stationers, is back open for business at the South Street Seaport Museum. With original prints dating back to the 19th century, Bowne & Co. is the perfect place to get a one-of-a-kind holiday or greeting cards from a place rich with Lower Manhattan history.

These beautiful, historic prints are printed in-house and restocked daily using a hand lever letter press that dates back to the 1820s. Although they are not 19th century prices, Bowne’s merchandise is exceptionally reasonable: cards are $3, postcards are $1 and journals range from $5–$9.

Bowne & Co. Stationers

211 Water Street

(212) 748-8651

www.seany.org

01/18/2012 at 11:17 am

Photo Exhibit at the Seaport Museum Will Provide a Close-up Look at OWS

Photo by Adrian Kinloch

By Carl Glassman

Occupy Wall Street was a photographer’s dream. Historic yet carnivalesque, peaceful (mostly) yet adrenaline-pumping in its nearly daily dose of action, the Zuccotti Park encampment and the frequent demonstrations that sprang from it offered a smorgasbord of visual delights. Such variety was often missing in the published photos of the months-long protest, which predictably featured confrontations with police over the day-to-day (and night) life of the movement.

Indeed, there is a far more substantial and varied pictorial record of Occupy Wall Street than has been shown—until now.

Luckily, the South Street Seaport Museum is taking on the task.

Reopening on January 26 under the direction of the Museum of the City of New York, the Seaport Museum will show 150 photographs culled from some 4,000 images submitted by more than 200 photographers.

For a sampling, click here and go to the Tribeca Trib page where this post originated.

As one of the jurors who sorted through about 2,000 of those submissions (as well as a photojournalist who periodically covered the Occupation), I can testify to the wide range of visual possibilities presented by the protest and the impressive selection that awaits viewers. In fact, the show’s organizers are considering rotating some of the 150 pictures so that even more can be seen over the weeks and months that “Occupy Wall Street” is on display.

The show is just one of many installations that will fill the museum’s three floors and 16 galleries beginning this month. In what organizers are preferring to call an “open house” rather than a conventional and formal museum exhibition, there will be other installations of photography, as well as video, a “Made in New York” fashion and furniture show, and offerings from the collections of both the Seaport Museum and the Museum of the City of New York.

The Occupy Wall Street show, conceived just a few weeks after the raid on Zuccotti Park, is more akin to an ambitious photojournalistic exposition than standard museum fare. It’s a visual exploration that adds meaning to those recent events, says Sarah Henry, chief curator of the Museum of the City of New York.

“The photographs provide a window into the gestalt and the history of those two months,” notes Henry, who organized the show with Sean Corcoran, curator of photographs and prints. “You also see what the photographer’s eye can do to help you understand, as a viewer, what Occupy Wall Street is all about.”

As a juror, I found that for all the standout photos we selected, much of that understanding comes from the diversity—even the contradictions—that can be seen in the show. The young and the old, the chaos and the order, the individuality of protest and the facelessness of it. That, it seems, is the big picture that this very timely Occupy Wall Street exhibition will have to offer.

The Museum will be open from 10 AM to 6 PM Wednesday through Sunday starting January 26. Admission is $5 (children under 9 free). Check seany.org for more information.

Carl Glassman is the Editor and Co-Publisher of The Tribeca Trib.

 

01/17/2012 at 1:08 pm

Lights On…In Lower Manhattan

By Kelly Rush

Now that it’s January and we’ve eaten far too much and feel disgusted with ourselves, I thought I’d mention a health food restaurant and some non-food openings in Lower Manhattan including a medical facility that specializes in pain management, though just the physical variety, so keep your therapist. We have a lot of new openings on the horizon, particularly in Battery Park City around the Goldman Sachs building. Stay tuned and healthy so you can get out and enjoy them. 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

Maxwell Medical – 99 Wall Street, 10th Floor
(212) 952-9355 | www.maxwellmed.com

“You should never wake up with pain.” That’s Maxwell Medical’s mantra, and they take it seriously. I violate this rule every day, so I stopped in for a massage and was rewarded with a pain-free neck and shoulders the next morning. The multi-disciplinary medical center specializes in physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, sports medicine and manual therapy (a more specialized form of massage therapy). They’re against medicine—as far as pharmaceuticals are concerned, Marketing Director Erum Hussain said. The idea is to find out what is causing a patient’s pain, whether it’s the way she sits at her desk at work or the remnants of an old sports injury, and treat through therapy instead of medicating. The staff also incorporates diet and exercise consulting into treatment plans. “It’s not just rehabilitation; it’s about a lifestyle,” Hussain said.

TJ Maxx – 14 Wall Street
(212) 587-8459 | www.tjmaxx.com

Da da da-da da da da-da TJ Maxx! The retailer with the catchy, classic theme song (click here for some nostalgia) is open and ready for bargain hunters. Walk through the brass gate on Nassau Street between Wall and Pine streets, take a trip down the escalator (but don’t trip down the escalator) and peruse designer handbags, clothing, shoes and home décor at discount prices. In other words, you’ll get the max for the minimum, minimum price.  I stopped in recently and found a wide selection of everything you’d need to stay warm, including coats, hats, scarves and some cashmere items for people tiring of warm but scratchy wool.

Pier 15

The stretch of waterfront south of the Seaport has a new place for visitors to sit, stroll and enjoy views of the East River. Pier 15 features an upper and lower deck with benches and grassy lawns which I predict will become very popular in the spring. The lower level contains two glass-paneled buildings; one will house a restaurant and the other will house a maritime museum. The way the deck was designed with steps leading down to the water gives you the feeling you could dip your toes in, but you can’t, and in this weather, you wouldn’t want to anyway.

Basics Plus — 85 John Street
(212) 791-6870 | www.basicsplus.com

Founded in 1989 at the corner of University Place and 13th Street, the first Basics Plus store sold everything from keys and hardware to an expanding line of household products. The retailer recently opened a new location in the Financial District, focusing on housewares. It’s known as “the corner store that carries everything,” and customers can find well-known kitchen staples such as Cuisinart and Simplehuman or try out the efficiency of eco-friendly cleaning products such as Mrs. Meyers or Totally Bamboo.

Beans and Greens – 245 Murray Street
(212) 786-4760

Beans and Greens’ grand opening presages a host of new retail offerings in Battery Park City, which is growing so fast it’s hard to keep track. You won’t find produce treated with pesticides at this organic eatery. Their menu features organic Stumptown Coffee, organically farmed greens and organically farmed dairy.

The café has several different stations where patrons can choose their toppings, including a yogurt bar, an omelet bar and a salad bar. Or, choose a chef-inspired entrée salad such as the sweet greens salad with dried cranberries, candied walnuts, veggies and grilled chicken, or the vegan Mediterranean with chick peas, falafel, veggies and tossed in a spicy Tahini sauce.

North End Grill and Blue Smoke– Goldman Sachs Building, Battery Park City

I mentioned a host of new openings in Battery Park City and would be remiss if I didn’t point out these two highly-anticipated restaurants. They’ve just opened and are serving limited menus at the moment, but I’ll have more details in my next column.

Closings:

Milk Street Café – 40 Wall Street
Duane Reade on – 147 Fulton Street

For more information on retailers in Lower Manhattan, visit the Alliance for Downtown New York at www.DowntownNY.com. You can check out an interactive map with details on hours, locations and services and search the events calendar. Or, stay connected through the Downtown Alliance iPhone app, available for download on the website.

01/13/2012 at 9:00 pm

DowntownNYC Weekly Twitter Updates for 2012-01-13

- Stop by the Bowling Green Greenmarket tomorrow after Mulchfest conveniently located @ Bowling Green! #

- $30 to Spend at Dark Horse on Murray St. for $15 http://t.co/CqTosBmq via @LivingSocial #

-  Check out the sale of designer jewelry up to 70% off at @GreenwichJwlrs #

-  Consumed in Fire, Cloaked in Ice, Equitable’s Headquarters Fell 100 Years Ago. @nytimes http://t.co/WBk8MpNu #

- Danny Meyer’s two new Lower Manhattan restaurants featured on @Thrillist. Can’t wait to check ‘em out. thrl.st/Auojg4 cc @dhmeyer #

- NYC Council Mbr. Margaret Chin Meets the Mulch Machine: http://t.co/dzFRDJgL @CM_MargaretChin @chrisquinn @julieshapiro @dnainfo

- Watch NY1 Exclusive with Downtown Alliance Prez Liz Berger + MTA: Fulton St. Transit Center On Track To Open In 2014 http://t.co/DCQVX7s1 #

- Good morning #LowerManhattan @OTDowntown @ArtsBrookfield @laurenelkies @CommunityBoard1 #

- Bowling Green Farmers Market open from 8 AM to 5 PM today. #

- Today’s #Broadsheet @broadtweetnyc has the latest on street artwork on Chambers Street. http://t.co/tOs89d19 #

- Staten Island Ferry Terminal Farmers Market open til 7 PM today. #

- @CommunityBoard1 Youth/Education committee meets at 6PM Time: 6pm @ 49-51 Chambers St, Room 709 #

- Mulch to talk about! Details: http://t.co/oQVJh8Nk @dnainfo @julieshapiro #

- Check http://www.downtownny.com for a new #LowerManhattan contest launching tomorrow! #

- Energy Kitchen – http://t.co/m0XbK11G – has launched a 9.99 burger/wrap, baked fries & fountain drink deal. Drop by Nassau St shop! #

- Brunch Alert: $29 for 2 brunch entrees & endless cocktails any Sat or Sun at @TheFultonNY http://t.co/vxmIA9B0 via @ThrillistNYC #

- What’s your #LowerManhattan LOVE STORY? Tell us, win romantic dinner/night @AndazWS http://t.co/8aSXMSxD @julieshapiro #

- Historical Artifacts Found Beneath Fulton Street Wow Second-Graders. http://t.co/Bu5qGyhL #

- The NYC Half 2012 on March 18th ends in #LowerManhattan Details at http://t.co/GzAJvszc #

- Dark Knight Rises opening night tix sold out. This #Batman flick filmed in #LowerManhattan http://t.co/QvFAMICr #

- Today thru Saturday drop by any #LowerManhattan Starbucks to try the new Blonde Roast and get free samples. #

- Fall in Love in Lower Manhattan. Tell us about it! http://t.co/iXCdJPeh #

- Today’s #Broadsheet has the latest news on #LowerManhattan http://t.co/5U9zO4QS #

- Priceline.com negotiates office expansion at 100 William St. – http://t.co/XtpCdKM6 #

- Knickberbocker Chamber Orchestra w/ Judy Kuhn at WFC Witner Garden on Sat., Jan. 14 from 7-815PM. Details: http://t.co/ttDHXAZb #

- Guess what’s booming in #LowerManhattan Babies. http://t.co/zDp1qJG3 #

- Protesters And Politicians Return To Occupy Wall Street. http://t.co/ZOVUtumZ #

- Downtown Hospital aims to enhance cardiac care. in #LowerManhattan http://t.co/qrmvLSLV #

- .@MikeBloomberg says in #SOTC speech: “This year we’ll put three city-owned office buildings in #LowerManhattan up for sale.” #

- .@MikeBloomberg #SOTC We’ll work w/ Pat Foye & David Samson @ the Port Authority 2 keep progress going on the new towers @ the #WTC #

- Pier 17 plans are becoming more public. Crains has the details: http://t.co/OyqsnC4P #

- TODAY: Films for Children @ New Amsterdam Library (9 Murray St. between Broadway and Church) For all ages at 4pm. cc @NYPL #

- And Teen Advisory Group at Battery Park City Library (175 North End Ave.) For ages 12-18. Free. 4pm TODAY cc @NYPL #

- TONIGHT: Tai Chi and Badminton at Stuyvesant High School Gym (sponsored by BPC Parks Conservancy) Call 646-210-4292 for more info. #

- Energy experts debate energy demands + the most promising paths forward at NY Academy of Sciences, TONIGHT 6:30-8:30pm http://t.co/OctoYISj #

- On your mark, get set, go…. Half Marathon runs off to #LowerManhattan http://t.co/GzAJvszc #

- TONIGHT: Writers from The Daily Show gather comedians for stand-up at @92YTribeca – 9PM. http://t.co/HYtKLYW8 #

- Our Downtown Connection buses already are linked with NextBus! http://t.co/ObEAEBy6 #

- Want to win a night and dinner for 2 @AndazWS ? Enter our #LowerManhattan Love Story contest at http://t.co/8aSXMSxD #

- Good morning #LowerManhattan ! @anniekarni @HernandezJavier @timestransit @courtneygross @MikieBarb #

- Changes afott that could impact NYC youth sports, including in #BatteryParkCity http://t.co/SymLkqFe #

- Need a space to do your work in #LowerManhattan Try the @Hiveat55 on Broad St. It’s cheap – and there’s free coffee! http://t.co/4DyyyGsb #

- We just learned: The Jan. 7th Bowling Green e-easte collection generated 10,330 lbs of items – a ton more than last year. #

- How to connect Governors Island to #LowerManhattan http://t.co/BC7ARbqN #

- Howard Hughes set to reveal plans to renovate Pier 17 at the #SouthStreetSeaport http://t.co/IX9wlE1K #

- Pace University wants a starring role in #NYC #039;s performing arts scene: http://t.co/dnh9zgnI @wsj #

01/12/2012 at 9:00 am

Meet a Lower Manhattan Business: Francois Payard Bakery (FPB)

Francois Payard, renowned pastry chef and chocolatier, has opened the second outpost of his bakery FPB in Battery Park City. It’s the perfect spot for breakfast and lunch with a wide variety of freshly baked pastries, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, savory soups and quiches and of course, traditional French patisserie items.

Grab a delicious pain au chocolat, flaky with a rich chocolate filling, or a fluffy brioche, a BBQ chicken sandwich with balsamic caramelized red onions and mango chutney, or delectable signature macaroons, in fun flavors such as PB&J, Pistachio and Oreo. Chef Payard’s cookbooks can help you make these desserts at home.

Advance orders can be made over the phone or online. Bon appétit!

Francois Payard Bakery (FPB)

210 Murray Street

(212) 995-0888

www.FPBNYC.com

01/11/2012 at 2:56 pm

Got a Prize-Winning Love Story?

A romantic dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. A walk along the Esplanade in Battery Park City. A blind date that led to a lifetime of happiness.

So many special moments can be captured in the one square mile that is Lower Manhattan.

So why not share the love – and be eligible to win a prize?

The Downtown Alliance proudly announces the Lower Manhattan Love Story, a chance to tell us how you fell in love in – or with – Lower Manhattan.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’d like to hear your story (in less than 500 words please). We’ve assembled a prestigious panel of Lower Manhattan judges who will pore over all contest entries and determine the winner.

What are we looking for? Personal accounts of how you met your life partner in Lower Manhattan, moved to the neighborhood because it was so special to you, fell head-over-heels in love with a park, view, or any other spot.

Our judges will be looking for the best “love” stories and choose a winner before Valentine’s Day.

Our panel: Toni Hinterstoisser, General Manager, Andaz Wall Street; Melissa Andreev, President, FiDi Association, Manager of La Maison du Chocolat; Christina Gambale, owner, Greenwich Jewelers; and, Sara Cancellaro, General Manager, Flowers of the World.

The contest ends on February 8, 2012. So send entries to ContactUs@DowntownNY.com  (subject line: Lower Manhattan Love Story) or Downtown Alliance, Att.: Lower Manhattan Love Story, 120 Broadway, Suite 3340, New York, NY, 10271. Entries must be received by midnight on February 8.

Because this is all about love, we have the ideal prize: a dinner for two at the upscale Wall & Water restaurant and a one-night weekend stay at the Andaz Wall Street hotel. Plus, Greenwich Jewelers is providing a $250 gift certificate to its store. And, the Downtown Express – our neighborhood’s premier local newspaper – will feature the winner in an upcoming issue.

Visit http://www.downtownny.com/lovestorycontest to learn the basic rules before you submit an entry.

We can’t wait to hear your story!

01/09/2012 at 5:03 pm

Mulch to Talk About

This weekend the Downtown Alliance held its fourth annual MulchFest event in Bowling Green, and close to 400 trees were collected!

Free Downtown Connection shuttle buses made special MulchFest stops to transport people and their trees to the event, and New York City Council Member Margaret Chin dropped by to help turn holiday trees into mulch.

And for the second year in a row, we jointly held an Electronic Waste Recycling Event at the site with the Lower East Side Ecology Center. We’re told that several tons of materials were collected this time.

The day’s events were co-sponsored by Con Edison, the New York City departments of Sanitation and Parks & Recreation, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Council Member Chin, Community Board 1, the Lower East Side Ecology Center, Tekserve, Whole Foods and Crumbs Bake Shop.

Click here to see photos from the event.

This was the kickoff event for the four green events run each year by the Downtown Alliance. The next one – our Spring Community Day – takes place in Wall Street Park in a few months. Each year, we draw more than 100 people to spruce up the park. Stay tuned for more details.

01/06/2012 at 9:00 pm

DowntownNYC Weekly Twitter Updates for 2012-01-06

- Please join us tomorrow at 11 @BNBuzz Triebca for our special Saturday morning Storytime. Storytime is a great way to make new friends!!! #

- Reminder: Downtown Connection free bus service suspended for New Years Day. #NYC #LowerManhattan #

- Recycle your tree this Saturday at MulchFest: http://t.co/6a1kZju5 #

- Culture radiates in Lower Manhattan’s One Square Mile. Check out all of Lower Manhattan’s museums: http://t.co/ozWToMeb #

- Good morning #LowerManhattan ! #

- $40 to Spend on All-Natural Cuisine at the recently opened Blue Planet Grill at 120 Greenwich http://t.co/hcwZeGNI via @LivingSocial #

- Start gathering your unwanted electronics and bring them to our annual Mulchfest + e-waste recycling event on Saturday bit.ly/xCjQBs #

- Visit http://t.co/Jd5ecEWH to learn what electronics you can bring for e-waste recycling on Saturday. Thanks @lesecologyctr! #

- Learn about the new #WTC Performing Arts Center board: http://t.co/liI1bZzd #

- @lesecologyctr We love working with you! We’ve already got some e-waste to bring on Saturday! #

- We’re excited that @CM_Margaret Chin is attending MulchFest this Saturday morning in Bowling Green! http://www.downtownny.com #

- This week’s Battery Park City roundup can be found here: http://t.co/10T0WWx2 #

- We’ve seen Pier 15 – which looks fantastic! Now you can read about it here: http://t.co/ARqcMPvb #

- Léman Prep in #LowerManhattan creates ‘global classroom’. http://t.co/t1bkWJHU #

- Downtown Magazine – covering everything wonderful about #LowerManhattan http://t.co/RxEv4ZgS #

- Good morning #LowerManhattan @DNDailyPolitics @NYDNTransit @wsj @TribecaTrib @tribecacitizen #

- Check out Battery Park Blog at http://t.co/T8sr6yN6 for events and the latest news on #LowerManhattan #

- #NYC to launch snow plow tracker in future! Cool idea. Chicago doing it too. http://t.co/KI8ChfgX #

- Our Town Downtown @OTDowntown profiles 20 Pine – and it looks wonderful! http://t.co/W7jW9kSA #

- Bowling Green Farmers Market is open today from 8AM to 5 PM. Bring gloves. It’s cold out, baby! #

- Manhattan Beep Scott Stringer hosts info session on joining local Community Bd: 630PM today; 1 Centre St, RSVP- conference@manhattanbp.org #

- Who’s got some of the best hot dogs in #LowerManhattan The answer is at: http://t.co/ggSHTPWC Oh, and there’s craft beer, too! #

- Learn about Demi Monde at 90 Broad St. and other new/about-to-open establishments in #FiDi and beyond at http://t.co/8JOCLZoO #

- Judy Kuhn Will Sing in Concert Remembering Jenny Lind’s 19th-Century Appearance in #LowerManhattan http://t.co/Me6Y4LPD #

- #BatteryParkCityAuthority addressing Pier A rotting issues in #LowerManhattan http://t.co/LADgV6Yg #

- Strumming along…. New York Guitar Festival at @WFCNewYork tomorrow at 8PM. Details: http://t.co/G323lUJJ @artsBrookfield #

- Looking for something for the kids to do in #LowerManhattan Check out Manhattan Youth’s activities at http://t.co/ziSJ7SnT #

- Metro Loft Management and Eastbridge Sarl have closed on 70 Pine St. for $205 million. http://t.co/JlnU9wR5 #

- MTA releases first of its kind winter weather guide says the @nypost. http://t.co/mIaLJVFH #

- A look inside the new Asphalt Green facility in #LowerManhattan http://t.co/yi9KhAdG #

- Downtown Alliance president Liz Berger gets a sneak preview of Fulton Transit Center progress. http://t.co/oo1NxQdk #

- Still holding onto that circa-1995 cell phone? Donate it at an e-waste event tomorrow in Bowling Green. http://t.co/E6Z0UkRz #

- Mmm $2 smoothies @jambajuice on W. Bway and Chambers today through January 19th. Get coupons at http://t.co/IC6JNXzT. #

01/05/2012 at 9:00 am

Meet a Lower Manhattan Business: The Growler Bites & Brews

Introducing The Growler Bites & Brews, the latest addition to Stone Street’s historic drinking and dining scene. The Growler is a rustic American tavern featuring great craft beer, artisanal hot dogs, sausage and sandwiches, and tasty signature cocktails (the cocktail menu features canine-inspired concoctions such as the Golden Retriever, the Great Dane, and the Bloodhound).

In addition to an extensive beer menu, The Growler has a great selection of “bites” including Brooklyn-made hot dogs with all the toppings any dog-lover could want.

The Growler’s house beers, Growler Brrright and Growler Darrrk, come from local breweries and are brewed exclusively for The Growler. Can’t get enough at the bar? All beers are available in growlers (64 oz beer jugs), to drink at the bar or take home.

At its heart, The Growler is a tribute to dogs. The law requires your pooch to hang outside but The Growler has water bowls and treats that will make your dog give it two barks up!

The Growler Bites & Brews

55 Stone Street

(917) 409-0251

www.thegrowlernyc.com

01/04/2012 at 2:54 pm

MulchFest is back!

Now that the holidays are over, you probably are wondering what to do with your holiday tree, let alone the earlier versions of the new electronic gifts you received.

Well, the Downtown Alliance has the answer.

This Saturday, we are hosting a MulchFest and Electronic Waste Recycling Event. The event—run in conjunction with the New York City departments of Parks & Recreation and Sanitation and the Lower East Side Ecology Center—will take place at the south end of Bowling Green Park starting at 10 AM.  MulchFest will run from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the e-waste event will run from 10 AM to 4 PM.

The weather is expected to be warmer this weekend (thankfully!) but in case it is cold we will have free hot apple cider and (a limited number of) cupcakes for anyone who ventures out. Last year, City Council Member Margaret Chin was on hand to help turn the trees into mulch, and this year we expect to collect hundreds of trees.

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation asks anyone planning to drop off a tree to remove all lights and ornaments before bringing it over.

The Downtown Alliance will once again run a Chip Trip, a special Downtown Connection bus that stops only at major residential hubs: three stops in Battery Park City and three stops on the east side of the district. The Chip Trip bus will be clearly labeled and will run its route every half hour. Residents can board the Chip Trip bus with a tree and the bus will transport them to Bowling Green.

The locations are: corner of Wall and William streets; corner of John and Gold streets; Pearl Street between Fulton and Beekman streets; West Thames Street between Battery Place and South End Avenue; corner of South End Avenue and Albany Street; North End Avenue between Murray and Warren streets.

The event is cosponsored by the New York City Department of Sanitation, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Con Edison, FiDi Association, Whole Foods, Crumbs, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, New York City Council Member Margaret Chin and Community Board 1.

The Lower East Side Ecology Center and Tekserve are hosting the e-waste event, and they will accept working and nonworking computers, monitors, printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, cables, televisions, videocassette recorders, DVD players, phones, audio/visual equipment, cell phones and personal digital assistants.

We hope to see you there!