News from the University Place dining scene: Nino Selimaj has turned one of several Italian restaurants bearing his given name into a nuevo Latino bistro, with Ricardo Cardona as the consulting chef: Osso Buco in Greenwich Village will become Scarpina Bar & Grill (Nov. 4): 88 University Place (12th Street), (212) 645-4525.

In this article, an NYU rep fires back at Village preservationists.

Mid block between 5th and 6th Aves. will be the local of a new 133-room hotel. It’ll be interesting to see how they squeeze it in. Here are the details.

We’re sad—really sad—to announce that Niall Cooney, our stellar super of two and a half years is moving on to another position here in New York. We’ll miss him and thank him for his very hard work, his good humor, and his consistent commitment to doing things right. We’ve been very lucky to have him on our team.

The Board has already begun the process of recruiting a new super to take Niall’s place. In the meantime, the building will be covered by Jonathan Alfonzo, who will be available on-site Monday-Friday from 9-5 and on call 24/7. Please make note of his phone number and e-mail should you need it: (347)-286-2088 j_alfonzo81@yahoo.com.

Also note the numbers of our managing agent Yves Martinez and his assistant Eric Sunberg.
Yves: 212-986-0001 ext.173
Eric: 212-986-0001 ext.133

Here’s an article about an upcoming book that sounds like it takes a very interesting and pictorial look at the history of our own Union Square.

No sooner did the Giant Bagel Shop and its associated pizza shop close than the pizza shop got retiled and reopened as Little Italy Pizza. That was quick.

University Place gets crepes. Visit Vive La Crepe on the west side of the street between 12th and 13th.

Join your neighbors on the roof on October 1st at 6PM. It’s pot luck, so bring something.

A true neighborhood standy is officially gone. So long to the Giant Bagel Shop on the corner of University and 13th. Who knows what will take over that high-traffic space.

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.