Word is that the neighborhood’s first 7-11 convenience store will move in on 14th St. near 6th Ave.

Pop diva Rihanna was spotted singing karaoke downstairs at Shanghai Square. End of report.

So we’re swapping one big box electronics store for another. Best Buy will move into the old Circuit City space on 14th St. by the end of the year.

Once again, Jeremiah of Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York eulogizes another block lost to development, in this case the nearby block of 3rd Ave. between 13th and 14th Streets.

Curious to see what our block looked like 400 years ago. Check in at the Mannahatta Project, search for our address, and you’ll discover that as you might guess, it was covered with trees. There was also a lovely little river running north to south between 5th and 6th Ave.

Sad! Joe Jr.’s diner on 6th Ave. at 12th St. is dying after 35 years. Here are all the sad details.

What a surprise that Dean & Deluca on University has closed after more than 15 years. What will become of that prime location?

From the NY Times:
Eataly, a giant market for artisanal Italian food products that opened in Turin two years ago, signed a lease this morning for an even larger location at 200 Fifth Avenue. (23rd St.) With 32,000 square feet of food halls and restaurants, Eataly New York will be twice the size of the Turin original. The partners in the venture are B&B Hospitality Group, the company behind nearly 20 restaurants around the country operated by Joseph and Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali, along with Oscar Farinetti and Luca Bassigo, the Italian founders and managing partners of Eataly. There will also be an 8,000 square foot rooftop garden, although the plans for that space are still being worked out. “I’m not sure whether it will be for beer, sausage and pizza or just beer and sausage,” Mr. Batali said in a phone interview today from a beach in Spain.

UNION SQUARE—Starting today, sandwich shop Num Pang is serving snow cones. Choose from Lime Lemongrass topped with Lychee and Pineapple Ginger topped with Toasted Coconut.

12th St. West of University

Here’s what’s happening in their building as described in a memo sent to the university community:

June 22, 2009
From President Bob Kerrey and Provost Tim Marshall Abatement of Hazardous Materials in the University Center at 65 5thAvenue This is a follow-up to the recent announcement of the closing of the 65Fifth Avenue. There were some questions from members of our communityand we thought it would be helpful to provide additional information. The closing occurred because our university’s trustees have approvedthe removal and abatement of hazardous materials in the building.Several Board members with considerable New York City constructionexperience recommended that abatement work be started in advance of thedecision to build since it is highly likely that decision will be madethis fall. Abatement of hazardous material will shorten the duration ofthe construction of the University Center project. However, becauseabatement results in stripping the interior of the building of allfinishes, it was necessary to close the building in order to performthis work. Please note that the abatement work would have beennecessary regardless of future building plans. The Board had previously authorized the production of schematicdrawings for a new building. This authorization has led to extensivecollaboration with the newly created University Facilities Committee.This committee is working closely with the architect, and severalsubcommittees have been formed to offer input around particular kinds ofspaces. This input will likely lead to a final Board decision in the fall toproceed with construction of the Fifth Avenue University Center. Thisdecision will depend upon evaluation of new construction cost estimates,of actual enrollment results, and of financing. We recognize that the closing of the 65th Fifth Avenue has resulted insignificant dislocation of student activities. We have accommodated someof these activities with new construction in Arnhold Hall on 13thStreet. However, more needs to be done. We are pursuing severalpromising real estate opportunities that give us confidence that we willbe able to provide the new amenities this year. In the unlikely event adecision is made not to proceed with the new construction, or to delayconstruction for a long period of time, the trustees will review alloptions for dealing with the existing building at 65 Fifth Avenue. We expect that a schedule of construction activities at the site can beannounced within a couple of weeks, when we expect the abatement anddemolition contracts approved by the trustees to be finalized. Afterworking with the University Facilities Committee to reach broadconsensus about the program for the new building, we will continue tomeet throughout the summer with the Committee and with other user groupsin developing the schematic design. We are also working to set upvenues for regular communication to the entire University communityabout the project’s progress.