Tightlipped Teachers
School officials are keeping a zip on it these days. One Downtown principal says that with the closing of school district offices under Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, high-ranking education officials now are much more cautious about doing anything that might look bad and are keeping a tighter reign on schools. “We have to be much more careful about what we do,” said the principal. As a result, she has to be cautious about talking to the press. She did not mention any restrictions on lessons about the First Amendment.
Dial-A-Date
Battery Park City Parks officers must be moonlighting. Community Board 1 member Tom Goodkind dialed up their bus stop posted number to report black car limos blocking the esplanade entrance for emergency vehicles on Liberty St. and South End Ave. and was connected with none other than an escort service advertisement. Agog, fellow board member Barry Skolnick, dialed the number himself and got the same response. The two hurried over to BPC Parks Police headquarters to give them the skinny. Now, the number gives nothing but a busy skinny. How’s that for fast community response?
Healthy John
John Whitehead, chairperson of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, got a nod from the New York Academy of Medicine at Cipriani 42nd St. on Wednesday night. The Academy celebrated the Downtown heavyweight’s “leadership of the urban plan that will affect the health of generations of New Yorkers.” We’re all breathing easier tonight.
Tuba All About It
TriBattery Pops is tooting for a tuba player. The group, which was a finalist for a Grammy nomination and is listed on the WMEB jazz radio chart, started practices last week sans tuba player after their “young hip Gateway resident moved to a groove artists community upstate,” wrote pops conductor Tom Goodkind. The gazebo band is just breathless, Goodkind says and is also keeping its ears open for anyone else interested in joining the band. Members need only practice twice a month on Friday evenings, will appear on a CD and perform in count ‘em six summer concerts. Interested? Call the Church Street Music School at (212) 571-7290, E-mail TomGoodkin@aol.com or visit www.TriBatteryPops.com
Movin’ Out
Mary Kate Olsen, fully recovered from any recent relapses, appears to be done with Tribeca for now. She dodged out of her posh digs on North Moore St. leaving the blond twin Ashley to survive in the big loft alone. UnderCover will miss the sight of two idling SUV’s.
Brotherly Love Downtown
In light of the Eagles’ upcoming Super Bowl appearance, many Philly fanatics may be scouring the city for that authentic Philly cheesesteak taste. However, they need look no further than Carl’s Steaks Downtown, 79 Chambers St. Hoping his business helps Downtown’s revitalization, Carl Provenzano’s menu offerings range from the traditional cheesesteak and hoagies to veggie and low carb options. Everyone from the former Philly resident seeking a taste of home to the health-conscious New Yorker searching for a low carb treat can find something to suit her or his palate.
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