The New York Post offers this brief history of Union Square. It’s interesting to note that before the subway was built, the park was at street level. When the subway came through, the whole park was torn up and elevated several feet, which why you enter it via stairs today.
The downtown location of popular vegan restaurant Blossom is out after two years. The team announced the closure of their University Place outpost in an Instagram post, saying that they were “grateful for the chance to focus our energies and resources on our flagship Upper West Side location.”
An update from the Farmer’s Market:
The time has come to flex your Winter Warrior muscles! Each year, from January through March, Greenmarkets across the city participate in the Winter Warrior Challenge. If you shop at the market during the coldest months of the year, you can win a prize (and Winter Warrior bragging rights!)!
It’s simple to participate and fun for the whole family! All you need to do is stop by any Greenmarket Market Info Tent to pick up your Winter Warrior card. Then, every time you shop at the Greenmarket between January and March, visit the Info Tent to get your card stamped.
Shop ten times before March 31st and win a small Greenmarket prize plus an entry into our raffle for one of our grand prizes. For details, grand prize announcements, and more, follow us at @unsqgreenmarket on Instagram!
The New York Times has the details on copper thieves who are systematically stripping the facade of the old Zen Palate on Union Sq. West, which has been vacant for over a year. Is this the beginning of the end?
Adding them all up:
–Blue Bottle
–NewsBar
–Joe
–La Maison de Croque Monsieur
–Unnamed Japanese Bakery not yet open
–Blue Stripes Cacao Shop
–Baked by Melissa
–Le Café Coffee
–Nutella Café
–Grey Dog
–Pret a Manger
–Maison Keyser
From Gothamist: Reverend Billy climbed to the roof of the Pavilion building in Union Square last night around 6:30 p.m. to hang a banner reading: Not For Sale. While he was up there, he gave the passersby a lessn on why the historic free speech structure cannot be turned into a private, upscale restaurant; reminding people that the first Labor Day in 1882 took place there, and that one “shouldn’t have to buy a $15 appetizer to have access to this building.” Catch the nutty video.
