Ricky's on First Avenue is now open

Dave on 7th notes that the Ricky's on First Avenue near Seventh Street opened today... at the former site of the Miracle Grill... Jeremiah first noted this new arrival back in June...

BaoBQ coming to First Avenue

Well, now. This sign has appeared on First Avenue near 14th Street ... where the short-lived Select Burger most recently held forth... Not sure if this is something new from Michael "Bao" Huynh, who has opened and closed 68 several restaurants in the area in recent years... Perhaps this is the burger, fried chicken and waffles joint he was supposed to open with that Playboy Bunny, as Eater first reported...

Starbucks makes it official on First Avenue

It wasn't a dream ... EV Grieve reader Marjorie Ingall passes along this photo taken at 49 1/2 First Avenue, the former home of The Bean ... As you know, Starbucks is taking over this space ... And here's some evidence... a shot of the architectural drawings and notes that were lying on a window seat on display last evening ...

Next stop, Hell.

The Bean Truck debuts

...earlier today... in front of their old storefront on First Avenue and Third Street. Via jdx.

[Updated] The Bean debuts 'fully stocked' food truck tomorrow on First Avenue

Starting tomorrow, the Bean won't be open at their flagship First Avenue and Third Street location. Instead, the Bean will have "a fully stocked food truck" parked in front of the location at 49 1/2 First Avenue.

The Bean is closing — presumably tonight right now — here to make way for a Starbucks.

The Bean will open new locations on Third Street and Second Avenue and Ninth Street and First Avenue ... as well as First Avenue and Second Street. Until then, they'll have the truck.

Updated:

Dave on 7th passes along this photo of the Bean right now from around 2:45 ... they are packing it in... workers have removed the Bean awning...

Updated:

jdx sends along photos of workers dismantling the cafe...

DNAinfo was on the scene today and spoke with some regulars who are upset the place is closing...

New mural in the works for the Russo's-Something Sweet wall

In late July, workers refurbished the building on the southwest corner of First Avenue and 11th Street... painting over the Russo's ribbon mural in the process...

But! A new mural is in the works, as you can see... no one was around ... so we don't know who the artist is yet...

Of course, we're hoping (and assuming) that this will be for Russo's (or Something Sweet) and not an ad for, say, vodka.

The good, the bad and the Ugly Kitchen

Sorry, a little early for that headline...

Here on Restaurant (turnover) Row on First Avenue, Grub Street noted that Ugly Kitchen is likely Soft Opening this week at the now-departed Veloce Pizzeria space.

This past weekend, a Very Special Tipster© caught a glimpse of Ugly Kitchen's exterior ...

...and here is the Soft Opening drink menu ... starting with an $11 Cucumber Peach Martini described as "Organic Cucumber Vodka and peach."

... and the food menu.

We rather like the reflection of the Golden Arches in the menu.

P.S.
Anyone know what happened to the tree in front of this address?

And now, a photo of Vincent Gallo on the side of a bus on First Avenue

At 14th Street yesterday afternoon...

'Food use OK' at former First Avenue video-computer store

The weird-cool little Intervideo Electronics store on First Avenue near Sixth Street closed earlier in the summer... And now, "for lease" signs have gone up here...

We took a look at the listing. The rent isn't listed. However, take a look at the ad... Espresso City? With wi-fi!

By listing "Caracas Arepa Bar, Luke's Lobster Bar, Porchetta NYC, Pylos ... and Cafe Mogador," they're certainly gunning for more upscale food...No mention of Restaurant (Turnover) Row across the street...

Coming next week to First Avenue: Ugly Kitchen

Speaking of Restaurant (turnover) Row on First Avenue ... Grub Street's Jenny Miller has the scoop on what's opening at the now-departed Veloce Pizzeria on First Avenue... something called Ugly Kitchen, from people who run the Blue Ribbon restaurants. Per Grub Street: "the eatery will serve lots of grilled meats, such as Argentinean-style dry-aged steak ... Ugly Kitchen will serve Asian and South American–inflected cocktails, including a mango margarita and a cucumber-pear martini."

First Avenue around 9:40 a.m.

Near Ninth Street.

Aspiring sinkhole arrives on First Avenue

EV Grieve reader reader Creature notes the arrival of a new contender in the (pre-earthquake) sinkhole sweepstakes... here on First Avenue at Sixth Street...

Hmm, not bad ... though not quite ready for that mini Cooper just yet...

Burkina's new First Avenue home

BoweryBoogie pointed out a few weeks ago that hip-hop clothing shop Burkina NYC was moving from its home the last 16 years on Houston ... to a new location on First Avenue... Anyway, signs are up at the new space near East Fourth Street.... Careful — you might miss it!

Meanwhile, in the First Avenue bike lane

EV Grieve reader Steve Carter notes this at First Street this afternoon.

Filipino pop-up restaurant Maharlika now open on First Avenue

As of last Friday, Filipino pop-up restaurant Maharlika is now in "soft open" mode here at 111 First Ave. near Seventh Street...

Grub Street first brought news of this arrival back on July 22 ... Co-founder Nicole Ponseca previously oversaw a Maharlika brunch pop-up inside of Resto Leon on East 12th Street...

Anyway! Here's a look at part of the menu...

And, to fit into the current East Village climate, there's a happy hour....

This is the second Filipino restaurant to debut on First Avenue this year ... Sa Aming Nayon opened in the former Wai? Cafe space in June.

And this is the third or so eatery to take this space in the last few years... there was Absinthe, Lautrec Bistro and Lingua ...

Something Sweet had nothing to do with the loss of the Russo's mural

As we noted the other day, workers painted over the Russo's mural on East 11th Street. Blue Glass talked with the folks at Something Sweet. Because the mural was technically on their wall, there's a perception that Something Sweet ordered the paint job. Apparently several people have said unkind things about this to the Something Sweet staff.

Anyway, Something Sweet had nothing to do with the makeover. The building's landlord did. As for a new mural, the staff at Russo's was fairly noncommittal on the issue.

Workers paint over the Russo's mural on 11th Street

Last Monday, we pointed out the arrival of a sidewalk shed outside Something Sweet on the corner of First Avenue and East 11th Street...

And, let's awkwardly quote ourselves.... "As long as no one gets any funny ideas about painting over the Russo's mural on the 11th Street side..."

[2nd Russo's image via]

That's right! And this past weekend... checking in on the painting progress.

...and yesterday...

Ugh.

The store was founded in 1904. I don't know how long the mural has been here... Could workers have spared it? Not such a crazy concept. The pigs were actually saved on Second Avenue. Regardless, just one more familiar site in the neighborhood that has disappeared...

A sidewalk shed for Something Sweet

Blue Glass notes the arrival of a sidewalk shed outside Something Sweet, the homespun bakery on the corner of First Avenue and East 11th Street...

Per the DOB: Workers will replace the "joists, window lintels and stucco."

As long as no one gets any funny ideas about painting over the Russo's mural on the 11th Street side...

[2nd Russo's image via]

First Avenue after the storm this afternoon

Photo by EV Grieve reader Anthony.

Important questions arise after someone tosses blue paint on First Avenue plywood

A few readers were curious about the blue paint tossed against the plywood next to PS122 on First Avenue...

Art project? Random vandalism? Misguided anger about PS122 closing for renovations? Blue Man Group guerrilla marketing? "The Smurf Movie" guerrilla marketing?