Tour Our New Karaoke Neighbor

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.

It’s a bit of a hike, but the new Wegman’s supermarket at Astor Place is worth a visit because it is so huge and so suburban. Prices are competitive across the board, and the variety of items beats any other store in the area. The sad and tired Gristedes on University Place should be worried.

The Diesel store on the corner of 14th and Union Square West is no more. In its place will be a Reebok store and gym. Let’s get physical.

This 1920 photo shows the northeast corner of 5th Ave. and 13th St., the current location of The New School’s main building. If you look down 13th St. at the right of the photo, you can see our 13th St. building. 104 years ago!

One great way to enjoy dining discounts all around town: Blackboard Eats. Sign up for free and you get occasional e-mails offering 30% off your *total* bill. No strings attached. It’s a great deal and a great way to try new places. Here in this neighborhood, Fredi Sandwich Shop and Low Country have been prior participants.

We still don’t know who’s behind the design of the upcoming and controversial Union Square restaurant, but we do know who’ll be cooking there: chef Don Pintabona of O-V Hospitality Group, formerly of Tribeca Grill. In exchange for running the restaurant, O-V Hospitality has to invest $1.1 million in its construction. The design will “integrate historic elements of Union Square,” be called City Farm Cafe, and open in spring 2012.