Certified Open: Pop Pub

Au Bon Pain on 5th Avenue….dunzo.

Reports are in about how 13th St. and 14th St. may change when the L train shuts down for 15 months. Some amazing details, most notably the creation of the city’s first protected two-way bike lane running the entire length of 13th St. Hard to imagine what it will be like in reality.

Read more here. 

Get ready for Leon’s, an all-day Italian bistro that will be located next door to Ribalta on 12th St. near Broadway.

This very interesting article from the New York Press describes the battle between a noted urban planner and his son, who happens to be the Parks Commissoner. They disagree about the future design of Union Square and they’ve been battling publicly. Ouch.

This is the west side of Union Square in 1899. Note the Tiffany & Co. building that is now the luxury condos clad in black.