In mid-February, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership placed an initial shipment of 24 high-quality customized litter receptacles, branded with the BID’s distinctive “intersection” logo, at high-traffic corners and mid-block locations along 23rd Street.

The receptacles are a custom design created for the Partnership by a Maryland-based firm; the logo band was designed for the BID by local graphic design firm Pentagram.

While this initial order of cans was funded solely by the BID, the Partnership is seeking sponsors for additional receptacles at below cost, with the BID subsidizing the purchase.

Local businesses and property owners can show their support and commitment to a cleaner neighborhood by funding additional receptacles. In turn, sponsors will receive logo placement on the trash receptacles and may also request specific locations in proximity to their property or business.

For more information about the BID’s sponsorship program, contact Jennifer Brown at (212) 741-2323.

The Flatiron Partnership held the first two in a series of Meet the BID Breakfast Forums in February. The forums were at Cipriani 23rd Street, the Art Deco event space at 200 Fifth Avenue.

The first forum, held on the morning of February 15, was geared towards major Property Owners, Leasing Companies and non-retail tenants in the BID district.

The second forum, held the morning of February 28th, was attended by representatives of the district's restaurants and hospitality establishments.

The forums provided an opportunity to discuss common issues, provide input on BID initiatives, and share interests regarding neighborhood improvement.

An upcoming forum has been scheduled for March 15 for small businesses and retail establishments in the district.

To commemorate the opening of its new full-service Gramercy Financial Center at 115 East 23rd Street, Citibank presented a $15,000 grant to the Children's Aid Society, which is headquartered in the BID district on 22nd Street and Park Avenue South, at a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 13.

The opening of the new financial center was welcomed by Jennifer Brown, Executive Director of the Flatiron Partnership, who attended the opening: "This new branch will add to the great mix of retailers, restaurants and small businesses in this dynamic neighborhood."

"Citibank is a great citizen of our city and has been a generous sponsor of our agency, helping us to better serve local businesses," said Robert Walsh, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. "I am pleased to welcome this branch to the Flatiron business community."

Citibank's Gramercy Financial Center offers a range of services including personal and business banking, investment accounts, mortgages and insurance.

apple seeds, an interactive children’s play space catering to families with children from newborn to five years old, is now open at 10 West 25th Street.

apple seeds' 15,000 SF space features a state of the art indoor playground, classrooms, a library, cafe, boutique, and a space for birthday parties.

At the core of apple seeds is the indoor playground. This innovative space contains nine permanent exhibits centered on a “New York City” theme and is divided into three areas including “construction city,” “the neighborhood,” and “the park.” Some highlights from the playground include an NYC deli, taxi cab and an apartment building for creative play, as well as a designated area for infants.

The playground is also divided into four zones for early childhood development which allow for constructive play, imaginative play, large and fine motor skill development and an infant/toddler area. The sports area is equipped with basketball nets set at different heights and soft gym equipment.

apple seeds offers a wide variety of entertaining and educational classes for both children and parents to enjoy. Children’s classes include cooking, yoga, science, art, gym and the well loved music program Little Maestros.

Twenty-two-year-old Assan Diouf, tall and affable with expressive brown eyes, was brought up in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, a West African country of approximately 11 million people.

After spending part of his childhood in Paris, Assan moved to the United States with his parents and older sister last summer.

Assan works the 7:00AM to 3:00PM shift and is off on Wednesdays. He is fluent in Senegalese and French and is spending much of his off-duty time learning English at American Language School.

Before joining the Flatiron Partnershiop “Clean Team,” Assan was with the Union Square Partnership BID.

When Mort Sheinman was offered a chance to become part of the Flatiron Partnership, he knew he’d found something that was right up his alley.

Sheinman, a newspaperman all his life until retiring a few years ago, was managing editor of Women’s Wear Daily and one of the founding editors of W magazine. When he learned that the Flatiron Partnership was looking for someone to help survey the area and to contribute copy and photographs to its Web site and newsletter, he knew it was a perfect match.

“I’ve lived on Gramercy Park for 35 years and this neighborhood means a lot to me,” he said. “To be able to use my newspaper background and to feel that I have a personal stake in what I’m doing is a terrific combination.”

Sheinman came to the BID through the auspices of ReServe, an organization that finds positions with non-profits for retirees who want to continue using their professional skills, but on a part-time basis.

The Shake Shack in Madison Square Park will reopen for the season on Wednesday, March 21.

This "roadside" food stand, serving burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, beer, wine and more, has made the southern end of Madison Square Park a popular destination for dining.

Since opening in 2004, the Shake Shack has contributed to the ongoing renaissance of this historic park, donating a portion of sales to the Madison Square Park Conservancy.

Zaro's New York Bakery has opened its 13th New York area store in the Flatiron neighborhood on Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets.

Zaro's Bread Basket and online bakery is a third-generation family-owned and operated business begun in 1927 when Joseph Zaro arrived at Ellis Island from Eastern Europe. In 1977, the company opened its Grand Central Terminal store, which paved the way for stores in Pennsylvania Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and many others, making Zaro's a household name in the New York metropolitan area.

Richard Parsons, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner, will be speaking at Baruch College's Third Annual Burton Kossoff Business Leadership Lecture on Wednesday, March 21 at 9:00AM in Room 14-220 of Baruch's Vertical Campus at 55 Lexington Avenue.

This event is free and open to the public. Attendees must RSVP in advance by calling (646) 660-6094.

Organized by Baruch's Executives On Campus Program and Phyllis L. Kossoff, the Kossoff Business Leadership Lecture is an annual event held in memory of Burton Kossoff, founder of the Burton Packaging Co. Inc. and an inaugural member of The Baruch College Fund. Prior guest speakers in the lecture series have included Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, and David Neeleman, chairman and CEO of JetBlue Airways.

The Field Center for Entrepreneurship at Baruch College offers free workshops geared to start-up and established businesses. These non credit-bearing workshops are taught by the Field Mentors who are faculty from the Zicklin School of Business.

Workshops on such topics as business plan development are designed to provide a foundation for the entrepreneur. Other courses such as e-commerce and management workshops are designed to improve a business owner’s knowledge and skills in specific areas. Workshops are also offered on such topics as franchising, home-based businesses, financing, sales techniques, record keeping, and low-cost advertising.

These free workshops are offered throughout the year and are open to the public.

Founded in 1961, The International Center in New York (ICNY) is a unique community where immigrants, refugees, students and other newcomers to the United States come to practice English and learn about American culture.

Each year, ICNY provides 2,500 newcomers from 85 countries with a wide range of language and cultural programs through its corps of 1,000 volunteers.

ICNY offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities, training and ongoing professional support. Volunteers teach English and American culture and, in the process, learn about other cultures.

Volunteer opportunities include one-on-one Conversation, Pronunciation, Writing, Advanced English and Career Skills Partnerships. Conversation Partnership is the International Center's most popular partnership program, and the basis of its other opportunities. Volunteers meet one-to-one with members to help them build confidence in conversational English and to support their adjustment to life in New York.

Recent News Coverage

• Clean Team Takes On Snow Removal
• BID Welcomes Citibank to Neighborhood
• BID Makes a Clean Sweep
• Officer who Cleaned up Kenmore Named BID's Operations Director
• Long Live the BID
• Jennifer Brown Appointed Executive Director of Flatiron BID
• Manhattan's First New BID in Over Four Years Launched
• New Improvement District Around Madison Square Park
• BID Aims to Clean Up Community
• Flatiron BID uses Hi-Tech to Track Problem Areas
• Flatiron BID Plans Neighborhood Makeover
• New BID Is Milestone in Flatiron District Revitalization

Press Releases

• Hero Officer Returns to His Beat
• BID Launches Sanitation Program
• Jennifer Brown Appointed Executive Director
• Flatiron Partnership BID Launched

Newsletters

• February 2007
• January 2007
• December 2006

Emails

• "Discover Flatiron" Holiday Calendar
• Tree Lighting Event
• Walking Tours
• Launch Postcard