Final Gentrification of Union Square

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.

Next week (November 12 to November 16), Material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on all floors. Curtain wall installation on the lower floors will proceed along 14th st. inside the construction site. The crane that is on site will remain for the duration of curtain wall installation and will not affect pedestrian or automotive traffic.

The following week (November 19 to November 23) Material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on all floors. Curtain wall installation on the lower floors will proceed along 14th st. inside the construction site. The site will be closed on November 22 for the holiday.

This weekend the site will be open on Saturday, November 17th for superstructure related activities and curtain wall installation between the work hours of 7AM and 5PM as permitted by the City. Con Ed will be working in the street.

Simo Pizza is scheduled to arrive on University Place in the former home of Argo Tea (and before that, good ol’ Dean and DeLuca) sometime in the fall. They already have a branch in the Meatpacking District, and the pizza looks good…and affordable.

Beginning mid-month, Uniqlo will open a pop-up store within the Union Square subway station. Located at the east end of the station, the temporary store will sell winter gear including the brand’s $50 puffer jackets and HeatTech layers. Huge perk: every purchase earns a free $5 MetroCard. The pop up is open through Christmas.

The Strand has made it a lot easier to get what you need without having to dig for it in the store. Just order what you want online and pick it up at the store a couple of days later. You’ll save the shipping fee and all the time it takes to poke through the stacks. Of course, if you’re an inveterate browser, as many of us are, feel free to keep exploring. That’s what makes the Strand so much fun.

As you might imagine, the art vendors of Union Square don’t want to be kicked out.