Latest New School Construction Update

The Walgreens at 4th Ave. and 14th St. is doing flu shots for $24.99 by appointment. Call 212-677-0054 or go here.

After 13 years, Corkbuzz, our downstairs neighbor, is done. Its other location, in Chelsea Market, will remain open.

After over six years of delays, Union Square Pavilion is finally open to the public. The main draw of Simon Oren’s sprawling restaurant is the outdoor patio, which overlooks the park (and, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the beautiful Greenmarket). Chef Mario Urgiles, formerly of Maison, will cook simple dishes like pappardelle al pesto, wild-mushroom bruschetta, and branzino with vegetable ratatouille. Think of this as Tavern on the Green for the downtown set.

The W Hotel has undergone a $100 million renovation, including new restaurants and a new rooftop bar. With room rates now at $650, it’s pretty high-end.

From Bedford + Bowery:

A Union Square institution, Coffee Shop, served its final brunch Sunday with one last samba performance by Maucha Adnet, her trio, and a pair of roving carnival dancers. Charles Milite and Eric Petterson– who own the restaurant with Karolyn Effer, wife of music producer Jellybean Benitez— were on hand for the farewell, and fondly remembered a New York magazine story about the Brazilian diner’s opening 28 years ago. It noted “the  late-nighters who’ve been thronging Coffee Shop and its secret room in the back–artists, actors and young models wearing black tights and gold medallions.” At the time, Patterson said he wanted the 23-hour diner to recreate the feeling of Brazil: “the sensuality, the music, the friendliness of the people.”

Since then, Coffee Shop has held on, despite never really being a foodie destination; its basement, once an after-hours party spot for ’90s cool kids, recently served as a chill-out zone for off-duty models during Fashion Week. And its outdoor tables were a dependable spot for leisurely people-watching. But back in July, it was announced that the restaurant would close. “The times have changed in our industry,” Milite, himself a former model, told the New York Post. “The rents are very high and now the minimum wage is going up and we have a huge number of employees.”

Sweetgreen, the expensive high-end organic salad bar place, will arrive in the vacant space on University Place between 12th and 13th St. Kale for everyone.