Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Wednesday's parting shots



Our resident red-tailed hawks, Christo and Amelia, enjoy views of this neighbor today from two vantage points... atop the St. Nicholas of Myra Church on Avenue A and 10th Street (above) and the Christodora House on Avenue B and Ninth Street (below) ...



And I can't tell which one is which in these photos that Steven shared.

The two were conspicuously out and about in full view of the hawkarazzi as photos have circulated showing Christo's ex Dora with a new mate in wing rehab.

9th Precinct hosting a Build the Block meeting Friday evening for Sector C



The 9th Precinct continues to host Sector Safety Summits for East Village residents and business owners.

The next one is scheduled for Friday evening for those in Sector C. This Sector encompasses the south side of Seventh Street to East Houston, from the west side of First Avenue to Broadway...



Per the NYPD: "This is an avenue for you to voice your grievances or concerns with issues in and around the neighborhood." (Maybe someone will ask about the light tower on Second Avenue and Third Street.)

This is part of the NYPD's initiative called the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO) program. The 9th Precinct is split up into four sectors, with two officers assigned to each sector. Find the sectors and the responsible officers here. Use this map to find out what Sector you're in, and what meeting you should attend.

Friday's meeting will be held at the Bhakti Center, 25 First Ave. between First Street and Second Street. Per the invite, doors will open at 5 p.m. for refreshments and the meeting will start promptly at 5:30 p.m.

When in rehab: Meet Winston, the new red-tailed hawk in Dora's life

Dora's rumored new romance is now blog official.

On Monday, Goggla posted the first photos of Dora (on the left) cozying up to the new love bird in her life — hello Winston!



Bobby and Cathy Horvath, the fine folks at the Long Island-based Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation (WINORR), shared this photo with Goggla.

Dora, the red-tailed hawk who previously lived in Tompkins Square Park, has been in the care of WINORR since April. This marked her second stint there for an injured wing.

She is doing well and seems content with her new life at WINORR. However, she won't ever be returning to Tompkins Square Park — or maybe anywhere out in the wild.

Per Goggla's post:

It looks like Dora is happy hanging out with Winston, who also has a wing injury that keeps him from being unable to live in the wild. The two have bonded and I'm glad the drama of the last year has had a positive conclusion.

SO ... MUCH ... DRAMA.

Christo and Dora raised 10 hawklets these past few years before she left for her latest wing rehab. Meanwhile, Christo has been in relationships with Barucha/Nora/Not-Dora and, more permanently, Amelia.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dora the red-tailed hawk returns to Tompkins Square Park

Dora re-injures her wing, leaves Tompkins Square Park for examination, possible rehab

Dora's wing is not broken, but she won't be returning to Tompkins Square Park any time soon

Red-tailed hawks who love fast food

Why Dora's private secretary is really leaving

Red-tailed hawks: They're just like us (holiday edition)

Christo responds to rumors that he rekindled flame with Dora

You won't believe what Christo eats for his cheat meals

Dora shares her inspiring outlook on molting

Exclusive: Amelia — 25 things you don't know about me!

About the New Colossus Festival, bringing new bands to the LES/East Village this March



More details emerged yesterday about the first-ever New Colossus Festival, which will bring 50-plus bands to LES/East Village music venues March 7-10, 2019.

As Brooklyn Vegan first noted yesterday, the festival (and conference) is being pitched as a stopover for emerging bands headed to SXSW in Austin, Texas, the following week.

Per BV:

The festival was created and produced by NYC music industry vets Mike Bell (Lorimer Beacon), Lio Kanine (Kanine Records) & Steven Matrick (Kepler Events/Pianos) and they are aiming for a CMJ-esque vibe.

“CMJ left such a vacuum, not only for independent music venues, but for bands all over the world that used it as a way to play New York City every year,” says Matrick. “We chose a very convenient weekend to try to bring back that opportunity. We’d also been discussing a way for these venues to work together again and resurrect the collaborative aspect of Manhattan’s music scene.”

Shows will be at Berlin (25 Avenue A), Coney Island Baby (169 Avenue A), Pianos (158 Ludlow) and Bowery Electric (327 Bowery), among other local spaces.

You can find the full lineup of bands as well as ticket info (three-day passes are on sale now for $50) at this link.

Yes, China Wok has closed



As a follow-up post to last Wednesday's item about China Wok's downed gates on Avenue B at Third Street... an EVG reader shared this photo from yesterday, showing that the CW signage has been removed, and the interior cleaned out.

The unofficial word here is that the owners decided to close after a rent increase. (The building is among those in Steve Croman's empire.)

We heard that the folks who ran China Wok also own a similar to-go establishment on Canal Street.


[EVG photo from the summer]

This corner space is for rent with an ask of $6,495 a month.

On Lafayette Street, former shelter for homeless women is now Showfields, 'the Most Interesting Store In The World'


[EVG photo from 2015]

Over at 11 Bond St. (aka 343 Lafayette St.), the former shelter for homeless women has been transformed into Showfields, a retail complex focusing on health-and-wellness brands.

Tenants on the ground-floor of Showfields made their debut yesterday.


[11 Bond St. rendering]

According to the headline on the news release yesterday: "The Most Interesting Store In The World Opens Today On Bond Street." The owners call this "a destination for consumers to engage with their favorite brands."

Among what you'll find inside, per the release:

• THRILLS by CHLOE, SHOWFIELDS' signature food and beverage experience where by CHLOE.'s larger-than-life flavors take on fantastical form inside a magical carnival-inspired funhouse.

• A bathroom curated by Babba C. Rivera of bybabba, showcasing her favorite bath and beauty products.

• You've seen the quip electric toothbrush on Instagram and mounted on your friends' bathroom mirrors, and now you can actually try a refreshed oral care routine first-hand (or... first-mouth).

• Get hands on with frank body's Australian natural coffee scrubs. Even sweeter, the first 1K customers will get a free full-size Birthday Cake Scrub.

• The GRAVITY relaxation space, a partnership with sleep application Calm and Beats by Dre to offer a distinct calming experience showcasing the brand's weighted sleep essentials.

• A sensory experience with Function of Beauty that highlights new and limited-edition fragrances, along with the next-level performance of this hyper-customizable hair care range. Customers will have access to gift box discounts not available online.

• Boll & Branch's new mattress inside an interactive billboard emitting different color light depending on the time of day.

The Center of Urban Community Services, who ran the 43-bed shelter for homeless women starting in 1988, sold the property to Aby Rosen's RFR Holding for $26 million in 2015.

The 15,000-square-foot building is in the Noho Historic District. The Landmarks Preservation Commission OK'd the modifications to the building in 2016. It was erected in 1913 for the New York Women’s League for Animals as a veterinary hospital. Find more history here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Shelter for homeless woman on Lafayette sold; retail tenant wanted

Marking the arrival of the Alphabet 99-cent Fresh Pizza awning


[Photo by Randy Kato]

Workers yesterday afternoon hoisted the awning for the new tenant at 20 Avenue A — Alphabet Pizza, which will serve up 99-cent slices.


[Photo by @Jason_Chatfield]

The original coming-soon signage put the business name as Alphabet Pizza and Deli. No sign of the "___ and Deli" for now. It will also be competition for the FDR 99 Cents Slice Pizza outpost around the corner on Second Street.



Chase left 20 Avenue A in November 2015. The newish landlord carved up the former bank branch into three smaller storefronts, two of which remain empty.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The retail-wine bar possibilities for the former Chase space on Avenue A and East 2nd Street

The retail space at 20 Avenue A no longer looks like a bank branch

Another broker for the former Chase branch on Avenue A

Pizza for 20 Avenue A

20 Avenue A is now 3 storefronts

ViVi back in bubble tea action on Allen after 2-month DOH-related closure



The ViVi Bubble Tea outpost on Allen Street just south of Houston reopened late last week after a two-month stint on the temporarily closed list.

The DOH ordered the chainlet closed after an inspection on Oct. 1 turned up 79 violation points, including for "Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan."

The operators of this ViVi location renovated the interior during the time off, and received the OK to reopen after a Dec. 3 follow-up inspection only turned up 2 violation points.

There are nearly 30 ViVis in NYC, including one on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue and Third Avenue at Ninth Street.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

The China Star will be back open tomorrow (or Thursday)



In case you were alarmed at the sight of the closed gate at the China Star during usual business hours... the solid, family-owned takeout-delivery spot at 145 First Ave. near Ninth Street was closed yesterday and today.

However, earlier today, EVG regular Lola Sáenz ran into China Star owner Jay Yang, who explained that they were doing some kitchen repairs, and will be open tomorrow (Thursday at the latest).

You can read our interview from October 2017 with Jay and learn the backstory of the China Star at this link.

Anyway, a reliable and affordable source of Chinese food right here.

The vintage bus stops here



Derek Berg spotted one of the MTA's vintage buses that have been in circulation this holiday season on Fourth Avenue near 14th Street.

Here's more about this ride via the MTA:

Bus Number 3100 (1956) was the first air-conditioned bus in the United States used for public transportation. The bus was designed and built as an experiment, with this single example was purchased by the Fifth Avenue Coach Company about a year after its manufacture.

It has other features first introduced in the 1950s: a push‑type rear exit door, wrap-around seating in the rear portion, soft seating, and fluorescent lighting. After two decades of passenger service, this vehicle was assigned to the Transit Police; it was retired from all service in the mid-1970s.

Sounds luxurious, though there's no WiFi or those soothing repeat "Caution bus is turning" messages.

The buses — 11 models in total — are scheduled to be here for boarding though Dec. 21.

And you can also ride the Nostalgia Train on Sundays starting at 10 a.m. through Dec. 30 at the Second Avenue F stop. This link has the schedule and more info.

Anyway, a feel-good moment for the MTA with a tumultuous budgeting process underway.

Plywood watch: 238 E. 3rd St.



The plywood recently arrived outside 238 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C...



...where there is a pending new building permit for a 7-floor residential complex.

As New York Yimby noted back in March:

The new structure will be designed by Vikatos Architect, and will comprise a total of 20,928 square feet of living area with a total built-up area of 27,657 square feet.

The building will rise seven floors above ground to 75 feet, with additional cellar living area and a basement. 20 rental units are planned, in total, putting the average unit at about 1,046 square feet.

But first, the existing structure needs to be demolished. (Those permits were filed at the DOB in July.) The arrival of the plywood is the first sign of the impending demolition here.

The current building, which the Blue Man Group owned at one point for use as a practice facility, also served as a movie theater. Public records from July 2017 list two of the founders of the Blue Man Group — Chris Wink and Philip Stanton — as the previous owners, who received $18.6 million for this and another LES property.

Vinbaytel Property Development is the new owner of No. 238. Vinbaytel has developed several East Village condos in recent years, including at 227 E. Seventh St., 67 Avenue C and 26 Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
7-story residential building planned for former Blue Man Group facilities on 3rd Street

On 1st Avenue, Paquito's is closed for renovations until Dec. 28



Paquito's, the dependable Mexican takeout spot on First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, closed for renovations yesterday... (thanks to Lola Sáenz for the tip and photos!)



Their Instagram account puts the reopening at Dec. 28... with the promise of a new look...


Paquito's, which first opened in 1992, closed its bar-restaurant next door at the end of last year due to a reported rent increase.

Short Stories shapes up on the Bowery



New awning alert at 355 Bowery, where a new bar-restaurant called Short Stories will be opening soon here between Third Street and Fourth Street. (The Brett/Beer sign has been up since the height of the Kavanaugh hearings.)

CB3 OK'd a new liquor license back in June for the the applicants, including Danny "The Wolf of Wilson" Teran, who runs several businesses in Bushwick, including Wheelhouse out on Wilson Avenue, and Williamsburg Pizza investor Ashwin Deshmukh.

The questionnaire on file with the CB3 application noted that Short Stories will feature "a mix of American, Cuban and Mexican fare." (Teran, a Cuban-American, specializes in Cuban cuisine. He also previously ran Millie's Cuban Cafe on Wilson Avenue.)

No word on an opening date. You can see updates on the interior via the Short Stories Instagram account.

Wise Men closed here in November 2017 after five years in business. And previously, the space was Osaka Vibe/Orange Valve — aka, that kind of weird sushi place on the Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
An appreciation of sorts: That kind of weird sushi place on the Bowery

Former kind of weird sushi place on the Bowery is now home to the Wise Men

Bushwick-based chef looking to bring Short Stories to the Bowery


[Photo from 2011]

Tea time for new cafe on 11th Street


[Reader-submitted photo]

JQK Floral Tea is now open at 330 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

A reader shared the photo here from Saturday evening, and noted that the small shop sells a variety of green, black and oolong teas as well as coffee.

The JQK website isn't operational just yet (there's also an Instagram account without any posts). Yelp lists their hours as 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with a 9 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday.

This space was previously home to Fair Folks & a Goat, the coffee shop and boutique, which left in August 2017.

Previously

Monday, December 10, 2018

At the 27th Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lightning



As promised, some more photos from yesterday's tree lighting ceremony in Tompkins Square Park.

All photos here are from EVG contributor Stacie Joy...







Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City provided entertainment ...







...along with the Mandel & Lydon Trio...





And some of the residents and local business owners in attendance ...









































Albert Fabozzi started the event in 1992. He planted the tree in memory of Park advocate Glenn Barnett, "and each of our neighbors whom we have lost to AIDS.”