Metropolitan Museum To Revamp Its Fifth Avenue Plaza

“Now an ambitious plan” – by the design firm OLIN – “is in the works to transform this four-block-long stretch along Fifth Avenue, from 80th to 84th Street, into a more efficient, pleasing and environmentally friendly space, with new fountains, tree-shaded allées, seating areas, museum-run kiosks and softer, energy-efficient nighttime lighting.”

French Booksellers Come Up With A New Kind Of Strike

“In Nicolas Sarkozy’s second crisis-budget plan, which raised taxes to try to plug the deficit, he raised VAT on books from 5.5% to 7%. … Booksellers’ unions are up in arms against the measure, which comes into force in April … Some booksellers have hinted at a possible ‘labelling strike’ where they simply refuse to stick on new price tags.”