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.
The University Diner has finally found its new identity…as a European cookie shop. The details:
“Almost a year after the closure of the classic diner University Restaurant, an Austrian corporation will open a specialty food shop in its place later this month, the owner of the incoming business said Tuesday.
“Gunz Fine European Food will sell cookies, snacks and other fine foods imported from across Europe, Daniel Gunz said.
“It will be everything from Belgian chocolate to Spanish cakes to Italian olive oil,”
The north end of Union Square Park will soon look a lot better. 21 trees are on the way.
Reminder: The annual Shareholders’ Meeting will take place on June 20 at 7PM.
Location:
The Seafarers’ and International House
123 East 15th St.
Second Floor
A news flash about the Zen Palate site on Union Sqare East, and it’s decidedly downmarket:
“The Riese Organization just purchased 34 Union Square (between 15th and 16th), formerly home to Zen Palate and plans to install a TGI Friday’s and a bonus Tim Horton’s in the space. Its been vacant in the two years since Zen Palate vacated due to “astronomical and non-negotiable increases” in their rent, a rent that has dropped 40% in the last six months. Choice quote: “…while many chefs in the district purchase food from the popular green market there, T.G.I. Friday’s will not join them, says Mr. Riese. ‘We are not that type of restaurant…'” Indeed.
A huge change of course for the proposed L train shutdown. Even though traffic on the northernmost block of University Place has been reversed, and even though the 13th St. bike lane is in full effect–and constantly blocked by trucks, of course–it now appears that none of this may have been necessary, and the upcoming 14th St. busway may not be implemented at all. Very very confusing. The MTA is ridiculous.