Well, this SRO - no harassment certificate objection may prove to be a bit more of a hassle than we originally expected. I did some research and found that there is an application that needs to be submitted to request this certificate. Now, it is possible that the hotel already has one on file and can just be pulled, but it is also possible that we'll have to apply and blah blah blah, deal with another city F$%#ing agency... so, we'll see. please keep your fingers crossed.

Well, I am happy to report that Jerzy has completed the review and come back with 3 minor objections. 1. provide a toilet for disabled LL58/87 2. SRO - submit certificate of no harassment HPD 3. see markup. So, this is very good news. We hope to turn all this around by mid next week so we can get the changes back into Jerzy's hands and be able to get a sign off shortly thereafter. We'll keep ya updated. I think I will finally be able to get a solid nights rest this weekend.

Day 50 of application being in the hands of the DoB. I just learned about the Peter Principle which I think is extremely applicable when it comes to the department of buildings. Peter Principle: the theory that employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to and remain at a level at which they are incompetent. That pretty much sums them up. After having experienced one misplaced application, one misplaced file, the most incompetent expeditor and the DOB as a whole, I am just about done with them. I am happy to report one thing. Our file has been located, application uploaded and is now in the hands of our good ole' plan examiner. Godspeed Jerzy. Godspeed.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, all those maybe 2 or three people actually reading this, we have changed our name. The Grounds Coffee was short lived however, Birch Coffee has just been given birth to and is alive and well. She has all ten fingers and ten toes. Very exciting. Lets all give Sally Coonan a big round of applause for her valiant effort in coming up with this home run of a name and lets all give it up for Mr. Dan Johnson for knocking the logo out of the park. Thank you Thank you. Here's to Birch Coffee. It'll take a little bit, but we'll all get used to it. Good night and good luck.

So, as of today, July 14, 2009 we have Beech Tree Coffee vs. Birch Coffee. I happen to like beech tree but visually, Birch looks really nice. To update all of you who haven't yet been filled in, we discovered that naming the shop the Grounds was too risky since there is a coffee shop in the W. Village called "grounded". I know I know. Totally totally different. However, when a major investor is an attorney, erring on the side of caution is probably the best route to take. Oh, those attorneys. Anyways, we should have a definitive name by later this afternoon. I will keep you all posted. Gosh this S#$% never seems to end!