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Choux Factory is Open

The Choux Factory (23rd between Eighth and Ninth) went from plywood to opening day in the blink of an eye. They're experiencing the usual opening day jitters of fumbling around their shiny new store, taking much too long to fulfill orders. But it is a shiny new store, and the cream puffs are gorgeous.

Two warnings to first timers: when you first walk in, they greet you in Japanese, which is kind of wonderful. And the strong version of their Kona coffee really packs a wallop.

btw, if you'd eaten an éclair, you've eaten choux. Here's the skinny on choux pastry.

Trestle on Tenth Coming to 24th and Tenth

sidewayZen reports that the resurrected Chelsea Commons will be a new restaurant called Trestle on Tenth, "...a casual, hospitable place with an emphasis on American dishes with a European flair."

Del Posto is Open

Del Posto, long teasing us with its plywood face, has opened and currently serving friends and family only. Andrea Strong reports,

...friends who have been invited have raved about the food, but have been hurt in the purse with reports of $225 for lamb and $250 for artic char for the table. Save your pennies, people.

Del Posto, 85 10th Avenue, 212-774-3680.

More Carnage on 18th and Eighth

Kenneth laments the passing of the Pine Tree Market... "More and more it seems that unless you're a nail salon, Manhattan real estate prices have made it virtually impossible for any type of business to survive, let alone flourish."

Printed Matter Art Bookstore Open on Tenth

I loved the old Loeffler Intercoms shop on Tenth (history), with the antique buzzers and intercoms in the window. Now Printed Matter, an art bookstore, has opened in the same spot, and so far has kept the old Loeffler sign, which I think is classy. With 192 Books just across the street, it's now a reader's destination.

Two Six Packs of Corona and Two Duraflame Logs

...the contents of a Korean grocer's delivery on 23rd St yesterday.

Good Question: Florist Recommendation

B. writes in to ask if I have any florist recommendations. My favorite is Studio Artiflora who supplied arrangements for an entire event I planned 1.5 years ago and did a wonderful job. At that time they in Chelsea proper, but have since moved to the flower district. Of them the Times says...

Brian McRonald, a former creative director for Guerlain perfumes, opened Studio Artiflora in Chelsea last month. The shop has walls painted nasturtium orange. Almost everything is for sale, including the display tables, with tops in spring green, right, peony-petal pink or custom colors ($285). Floral arrangements, which start at $25, arrive in twig vases and toile-print planters, as well as glass. Mr. McRonald offers flowers in colors like magenta and chartreuse. ''Shopping for flowers shouldn't be daunting,'' he said. He is happy to combine traditional roses with something offbeat. Studio Artiflora, (212) 645-5555.

The Times Itemizes the High Line High Life

"...the corridor is like catnip to... developers, with more than a dozen projects planned and countless others being considered."

This Times article lists several of the real estate projects being considered, and looks at the consequences of this heady grit-and-glamour cocktail:

Diagonally opposite the Related project, on the block that stretches between 10th and 11th Avenues and 17th and 18th Streets, Edison Properties will be constructing two mixed commercial and residential buildings, both designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects, replacing two parking lots. Both buildings have been controversial because of their height, one topping out at 25 to 30 stories, the other at 35 to 40 stories - more than double most of the other new projects.

The community fought the heights of these buildings but lost. Melva Max, the owner of La Luncheonette, across the street from the Edison projects, who has lived in the neighborhood since opening the restaurant 18 years ago, worries about density and how the tall buildings will obscure views of the new 6.7-acre High Line park.

"You won't even see the High Line any more and there won't be any light," Ms. Max said. "What are they going to do, put grow lights in there?"