Last month, the NYC Department of Transportation started implementing its street improvement plan on Broadway and 17th Street. The bottom line: more pedestrianization.
Here’s the news: “The New York City Water Board voted on Friday morning to approve a 14.5 percent increase for water and sewer rates, the largest increase since 1992. When the new rate is in place on July 1, according to the city’s Independent Budget Office, water rates will have risen a cumulative 77 percent since 2001, and double-digit increases are expected to keep coming for at least a few more years.”
This is one of those uncontrollable costs that bedevil the co-op’s budget every year. The only thing we can do about it: use less water. We’ve already taken steps to examine our infrastructure and make sure we have discovered any sources of waste and leaks. Other than that, it’s all about less consumption.
Laura Maniec, one of only eighteen female master sommeliers in the world and, at 31, currently the youngest, is about to open her own studio and wine bar. Maniec, who served as wine director at BR Guest for ten years and has just launched the wine program at Niko, has signed a lease on a space at 13 East 13th Street in Union Square and plans to unveil Corkbuzz in May. “It will be an extension of your living room and a place for all things wine,” she tells us. In addition to serving vintages from all over the world, Corkbuzz will offer small plates from oysters and sea urchin to pastas and cheese. The 2,500-square-foot space will also host classes, tastings, and events.
A new Panera express shop has opened at 110 University, the first retail shop to open in the pedestal of that high-rise apartment building since it was completed three years ago. The format is entirely new, will be 40% smaller than the average Panera café at 2,000 square feet and will be designed toward to go-customers with dedicated shelves for rapid pickup, a digital menu, tracking screen technology with detailed order statuses, and very limited seating.
