Chinatown visit
Gov. George Pataki visited Harmony Palace restaurant on Mott St. Wednesday to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Sex, acrobats and politics
The New York Trapeze School has proved to be a popular attraction in the Hudson River Park, and after appearing in a segment in “Sex and the City” has been dubbed with the ultimate imprimatur of chic.
But now the school park in Tribeca at Debrosses St., is looking for an indoorspace or to use some sort of semi-transparent, wind-blocking mesh to operate year-round on the Hudson. Community Board 1 has expressed some doubts about the mesh. Assemblymember Deborah Glick, said she doesn’t approve of the idea, or of the Trapeze School being at the location in the first place.
“While it’s been somewhat entertaining, that’s something that should be indoors somewhere,” Glick said. “We have very little open park space. We’re talking about a narrow ribbon along the waterfront that should not be filled with pay-to-play uses.”
In fact, Glick saw the trapeze segment on “Sex and the City” and said the school should take a tip from the show, of which she’s a huge fan. “On ‘Sex in the City’ Miranda is going to move to Brooklyn,” Glick pointed out, “so Brooklyn’s now hip. I guess they can move to Brooklyn.”
Valentine deals
The Downtown Alliance, working with about 90 businesses below Chambers St., has set up a discount program for Valentine’s Day. A wide variety of 56 retail shops are participating in the program, with discounts running through Feb. 14. J&R Music/Computer World, Century 21 and other clothes shops, florists, jewelers and even an optician are all participating, in many cases offering 10 percent discounts. About two dozen restaurants and eight hotels are offering special deals on Feb. 14. Go to www.downtownNY.com/lovedowntown to download the free voucher or call 212.566.6700.
Tribeca justice
Newly elected Judge Kathryn Freed, a Tribeca resident and the neighborhood’s former City Councilmember, had the notorious East Side rapist before her on a bail hearing, we hear. She remanded him without bail.
C.B.1 meetings
The upcoming week’s schedule of Community Board 1 committee meetings is below. Unless otherwise noted, meetings will be held in room 709 of 49-51 Chambers St.
On Mon., Feb. 9, the World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. to discuss and pass a resolution on the World Trade Center environmental impact statement, and to pass a resolution on the Fulton St. transit hub.
On Tues., Feb. 10, the Seaport/Civic Center Committee will meet at 5:30 to review the street fairs proposed for 2004 and to discuss the illegal parking problems.
On Wed., Feb. 11, the Executive Committee will meet at 5:30 to hear a presentation by the Dept. of Consumer Affairs on the proposal for changing the cabaret laws and to hear the committee reports.
On Thurs., Feb. 12, the Landmarks Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. to pass a resolution on the application by 302 Canal St. to legalize a storefront constructed without Landmarks Preservation Commission approval. The remainder of the agenda is to be determined.
Lovett loves Downtown
Lyle Lovett, long since recovered from his failed marriage to Julia Roberts, will be giving a free concert in historic Battery Park on July 4, Valerie Lewis, the Downtown Alliance’s marketing vice president, announced on Thursday. Sheryl Crow, Billy Bragg and Wynton Marsalis are among the musicians who have performed at the Alliance’s Independence Day concert in previous years.
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