Outdoor Dining In The Area

More branches of Barnes & Noble are closing. Most recently, the huge store at Lincoln Center was shuttered. However, the megastore on the northern edge of Union Square Park is safe.

Yet another single-dish restaurant opened its doors over the weekend: The Nugget Spot. Besides the expected chicken nuggets, this fast-casual joint also offers pork, fish, cauliflower, and mozzarella nuggets. There are also four different breading options, which range from coconut to Cheeze-it, and a long list of dipping sauces to go with. There are also a few sides, and the restaurant does serve beer, but only Budweiser at this point. Status: Certified Open. 230 E 14th St., 646-422-7426.

Next week (September 26 to September 30), contractors will continue to excavate earth and rock, loading out material. Line drilling will continue as well in limited areas. Concrete foundation walls at the South East corner of the site and slab on grade work will continue. Interior core foundation work and underground electrical and plumbing will continue. Removal of the interior earth ramp will be completed. DOT approved street connections to underground utilities on Fifth Avenue will progress. The cherry picker crane on site will be removed upon installation of the Superstructure Contractors Crane which will be stationed inside the Fifth Avenue fence.

The following week (October 3 to October 7 ), we will continue with concrete foundation walls and slabs, line drilling, rock excavation, loading out, interior core foundation work, street utility connections and underground electrical and plumbing. Formwork for superstructure concrete construction will proceed.

DEP has completed the water main repair along 13th Street. As part of this work the DEP will be completing related road repairs.

This weekend in addition to the site being open on Saturday, September 24th for foundation related activities between the work hours of 9AM and 5PM as permitted by the City, there will also be a crane installation crew assembling a crawler crane for use by the concrete superstructure contractor.

Crane installation will involve a partial street closure on Fifth Avenue between E. 14th and E. 13th Streets, as well as a full closure of E. 13th Street between University Place and Fifth Ave. As permitted by the City this activity is to occur between the hours of 6 AM & 9 PM with Sunday, 9/25/11 as a backup date. We don’t plan on needing Sunday for the crane installation unless the weather effects us on Saturday or something else that’s unpredictable prevents the completion of assembly on Saturday. It is anticipated that this work should be completed by end of work day but it could extend until the time allowed.

After almost 40 years, the New York Health and Racquet Club on 13th St. is no more. A few branches of the gym will be taken over by a competitor, but not this one. End of an era.

Due to city budget cuts, this year’s gay pride parade will be a mile shorter than in previous years. That means the usual big crowds along 5th Ave in the Village are going to be even that much bigger. Brace yourself.