Merchants without Doubt

Lower Manhattan, once a retail desert punctuated by a single oasis — discounter Century 21 — has bloomed in recent years with the opening of hundreds of new stores. And that transformation shows few signs of slowing, according to the Lower Manhattan Real Estate Year in Review for 2016, a new report from the Downtown...
Fashion retailer Uniqlo is reportedly coming to the erstwhile temple of banking at 23 Wall Street, as part of a larger, ongoing migration of retailers to Lower Manhattan.

February 7

457 – Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire 1613 – Michail Romanov, at the age of 16, becomes czar of Russia 1639 – Academie Francaise begins Dictionary of French Language 1792 – Austria and Prussia sign anti-French covenant 1795 – 11th Amendment to Constitution ratified, affirms power of states 1812 – 8.2 earthquake...
1964: The Beatles arrive at JFK and hold a press conference

Sic Transit Gloria Monday

The Downtown Connection shuttle bus, which provides approximately 800,000 free rides to Lower Manhattan residents each year, will be changing its eastbound route between Battery Park City and City Hall to Chambers Street, instead of Warren Street. (The westbound route between City Hall and Battery Park City, along Murray Street, will not be affected.) This...
This map indicates the new routing of the Downtown Connection, effective February 20, and continuing through September, 2019.

February 6

1508 – Maximilian I crowned Holy Roman Emperor 1778 – France recognizes USA, signs treaty of aid in Paris; first US treaty 1820 – US population announced at 9,638,453 1832 – US ship destroys Sumatran village in retaliation for piracy 1836 – HMS Beagle/Charles Darwin reach Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) 1843 – The first minstrel show...
Charles Darwin. A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.

EYES TO THE SKY February 6 – 19, 2017

Tonight, an oval moon shines from the center of the broad Winter Circle, also known as the Winter Hexagon, which is shaped by the season’s most outstanding stars. Please refer to the addendum and illustrations for details. Similar to last month, the waxing (increasing in size) gibbous (greater than half) moon moves within and to...
All night moon and stars. Courtesy EarthSky.org

Crossing the Street Safely

To the editor: I have noticed lately that the Allied Barton security guards have been directing pedestrians and traffic at Battery Place and 2nd place during drop off at PS 276. On a recent morning there was one guard on Battery Place as in the attached photo and another standing in front of 2nd Place....