Rothman’s Moves One Block North

Trees are arriving and are being planted at the north end of the park. Click here for all the details.

Some fun history about 65 5th Ave.

“The New School has been a presence at 65 Fifth Avenue, the site of the University Center, since 1967, when the university converted a Lane’s department store building for student use. But long before the address became associated with educational innovation, it was renown for innovation of another kind. In 1881, inventor Thomas Edison installed at the address (which was then occupied by a handsome brownstone) a permanent exhibition of his electrical discoveries. The biography Edison: His Life and Inventions reports that “the house was thrown open to the public until late at night, never closing before ten o’clock, so as to give everybody who wished an opportunity to see that great novelty of the time—the incandescent light—whose fame had meanwhile been spreading all over the globe.” It is a fitting legacy for the University Center, which upon opening in Fall 2013 will itself serve as a living teaching tool, with exposed energy and water management systems to provide working demonstrations of sustainable design.”

Down the way on University Place is the new iteration of Pop Burger called Pop Pub. Eater.com has all the details. .

This week, the Michelin Guide released its “Bib Gourmand” picks for the upcoming 2015 restaurant guide. The restaurants named on the list demonstrate excellence on a budget (two courses and wine or dessert for $40 or less). The Union Square neighborhood had 7 establishments make the cut, including ABC Cocina, Boqueria, Bread & Tulips, Hill Country Chicken, Laut, Momokawa, and Turkish Kitchen.

A report:
In honor of Barack Obama’s 100th day in office, an artist has painted what is just one more rendering of Obama as Jesus Christ complete with crown of thorns. ‘The Truth’ will be unveiled on April 29th in Union Square in New York City. No, it’s not some clever blogger’s photoshop or cartoon. It’s a real painting by artist Michael D’Antuono and it’s called ‘The Truth’ in honor of Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office.

The acrylic painting depicts The One appearing much like Jesus Christ on the Cross with a crown of thorns on his head. He is opening the curtain (much like biblical symbolism of ‘the curtain ripping’ at the crucifixion) revealing the Presidential Seal.

The popular artist, insists he isn’t claiming The One is Messiah, but only inviting ‘individual interpretations’ of his painting. And he generally paints non-political subjects, but felt the need to make a statement.

Once on display in Union Square, the painting will be seen by one viewer at a time behind a voting booth-inspired set up. Kitschy!

DOB has granted our request to start placing our concrete at 6am, which will allow us to finish this work earlier in the evening. We have 5 more instances like this until we finish our superstructure in early June.

Therefore next week (April 23 to April 27), Superstructure work will continue at the 14th and 15th floor levels. Monday, April 23rd, and Thursday, April 26th, we will have a pour with a 6 am start time and similar end time, weather permitting. Deliveries for the internal systems of the building have been ongoing and will continue, although they should not greatly affect the flow of pedestrian and road traffic.

The following week (April 30 to May 4), we will continue superstructure concrete and slabs on the 15th and 16th floor levels. Deliveries for the internal systems of the building have been ongoing and will continue, although they should not greatly affect the flow of pedestrian and road traffic.

This weekend the site will be open on Saturday, April 21st for superstructure related activities between the work hours of 7AM and 5PM as permitted by the City. To control noise levels within the site, work activities will be limited to the placement of formwork and concrete, plumbing and electrical work, rebar for concrete placement, using the crane and equipment to support all activities. Safety horns are used, and required by law, to coordinate lifting with the crane and to alert the workers of the danger overhead. We have directed the operators to limit the use of horns to one short sounding and to use the crane later in the day so as to avoid any excess noise.

In addition to the normal work on the job site, we will have an additional crane on site at 13th st. and 5th ave. to install the stair trusses on the west side of the building. The crane will be completely on site and should not interfere with pedestrian or automotive traffic in the area.