New on East 12th St., Hip City Veg

University Place will soon have not one but two taco spots within two blocks of each other. What was Tortaria at the corner of 12th St. will now become the second branch of Santo Taco. The update:

Since opening in the spring, Santo Taco’s Soho stall has gotten people to line up around the block for its steak trompos and rough-edged masa tortillas. Now it’s expanding: A new location will triple the number of seats while adding margaritas to the menu.

Check out Qi on the north side of 14th between 5th and 6th. It’s a Thai restaurant that comes with lots of philosophy about spiritual centeredness and such. You can eat, and you can enrich your spirit, or qi (pronounced “chee”). May be a little bit upscale for this block. We’ll see.

An unusual crime at Giant Bagel, on the corner of Universty and 13th, last Friday night:

Three peed-off perps brutally beat a man for taking too long in the bathroom at a Greenwich Village bagel shop, police said yesterday. The thugs — identified as Osman Jalloh, 19, Amadou Diallo, 21, and Mohamed Sow, 21 — became enraged waiting for Zaaven Castelan, 23, to finish his business in a restroom at Giant Bagels on University Place at 10 p.m. Friday, sources said. When Castelan emerged from the bathroom, the trio started pummeling him, the sources said.Police quickly rounded up the men.

As construction continues at the northern end of Union Square Park, more and more trees are being removed. See for yourself.

Niall will be away until Thursday October 15.

Backing him up is James, at 917-689-4884

The much delayed hotel going up at 13th and 4th will indeed be a Hyatt .