A Daydream doesn't come true, and a new hair salon debuts

With the help of a Grub Street reader who named the joint, Daydream opened last December to plenty of fanfare...(it was originally going to be called Double Fraiche)...The reader's prize: winner of free fro-yo for life at Daydream.






But the Daydream was shortlived. It closed in late October. And now, a new hair salon has opened in the space.

Will this be the worst movie ever made?

Or at least the worst movie poster ever made. Third Avenue near 11th Street.

Friend House moves across the street; the Hea sign remains the same

As you may know, the Japanese eatery Hea closed its doors at 13th Street and Third Avenue in September. So the Hea brass, who also own Friend House across the street, closed up moved into the more spacious quarters.



The Friend House menus are up...



...but the old Hea sign remains...

Nevada Smith's closing soon to go nationwide?

The Culture of Soccer blog has an interview with Jack Keane, the owner of Nevada Smith's on Third Avenue near 11th Street. The piece ends with this nugget of news:

Keane says that Nevada Smith’s has nearly outgrown its current Lower East Side location. “We don’t expect to be at this location very much longer. We’re looking forward to expanding. We have a group of investors who want to take us nationwide.”

Mosiac Man's work painted over on St. Mark's Place

On the northeast corner at Third Avenue. Did this happen recently? For some reason I never noticed before.

100 Third Avenue's lonely add-on

It appears that the work has stopped at 100 Third Ave. near 12th Street and 13th Street. Can't even recall the last time we saw workers here.

A Fine Blog had this report on the history of the address back in February:

100 Third Avenue, originally a 4 story building built in 1880, has sprouted an intriguing growth which now bring the structure to Nine stories. An interesting use of a walk-up building to be sure.

I hate to say it, but we have another mystery on our hands here! The building is zoned commercial, and a permit was filed to amend the building height to 90' , contain 3 units, and be re-categorized as F-1B - Assembly (Churches, Concert Halls) . Will it be a church or an assembly hall? Well, plenty of people have assembled at 100 Third Avenue in the past. In 1880 it was a restaurant. In 1910 it became a theater, later named "The Lyric Theatre". In the 1930's it catered mainly to the Bowery bum set. The Theatre would open at 7am an hour before showtime, so the transients could catch a nap before the double feature plus newsreel would begin. Later, the Theatre was renamed "The All Male Jewel Theatre", for, you guessed it gay porn.

There is a stop work order on the address because: "BUILDING SHAKING/VIBRATING/STRUCT STABILITY AFFECTED."

Anyway, you may consider walking on the east side of the street moving forward...

Late night with 123 Third Ave.

Onward and upwards at 123 Third Ave. and 14th Street. The new 18-story glassy condo continues to take shape... still no information on the 123 Web site or details on a sales office, though.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Easy as...123 rises
Stopping work at 123 Third Ave.

Oh, 123 Third Ave. does have a Web site...

Oh, lordy somehow I missed this... I only noticed the phone number... so when we can finally read about the faboo amenities coming to this skyscraping condo at 14th Street and Third Avenue...And what's on the site?



Not much yet!



So the sales office opens later this fall... and you can register now for the "priority list." Priority over what unit you want overlooking an NYU dorm?

Street fair!

On Third Avenue above 14th Street.

See you Hea

Sorry, that headline is a little flip...But Hea, the newish Japanese place that spent a fortune renovating the former bodega/nail salon on Third Avenue and 13th Street, has closed...





It seemed doomed, really, since closing in April for "renovations" just seven months after opening.

Doomed intersection? Cafe DeVille across the street has also closed.

Thanks to our friend Hunter-Gatherer for confirming this closure for us...

Bad (Mid-Atlantic) News

The Mid-Atlantic Newsstand at Third Avenue and NYU has closed...

Cafe DeVille's holiday appears rather permanent

In early August, the signs went up at Cafe DeVille on Third Avenue at 13th Street announcing its closure for a holiday through Aug. 30.



As of last night, the eatery had yet to reopen...



There's a transfer between Cafe DeVille and something called East County Louth Inc. (an Irish theme?) on Monday's SLA & DCA Licensing docket.

I never had reason to visit the Cafe DeVille Web site. But I looked last night.

Spoil yourself with one of our hand made cocktails, give in to a scrumptious Chocolate Volcano. Whether joining us for our decadent brunch, a luxurious dinner, our heavenly desserts, or lively happy hour, Cafe Deville's wait staff is warm and attentive and ready to treat you to a marvelous experience. The French doors open in good weather to spill tables out onto the sidewalk. The atmosphere is comfortable, pampered, sexy, fun and relaxed no matter if you sit outside, in the dining room, or at the bar. A seductive feast for the senses!

Uh-huh.

The reality there for so long,though...



In the spring of 2008, Cafe Deville was named one of the worst outdoor tables at Eater. (Photo via Eater.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cafe DeVille closed for the rest of the month

Scaffolding finally comes down at Third Avenue and 13th Street

Easy as...123 Third Ave. rises

At the same time we notice that the new 18-story glassy condo is finally (and quickly) taking some shape on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue...




(No Web address listed. But a phone number. Handy!)



...the Times comes along with a piece saying that basically all of 14th Street east of Third Avenue is pretty much doomed now. As the paper notes rather ominously.

Still, the stretch bordering the East Village, east of Third Avenue, existed as a relative time capsule. Discount clothing stores still dot blocks as they did when the area was a popular middle-class shopping district, side by side with 100-year-old brick tenements.

But stirrings of change are noticeable in the neighborhood, say brokers, business leaders and developers, many of whom are betting that renewal will continue its march along 14th Street.

A 19-story condominium rising at Third Avenue from the site of a former tanning salon may be a sign.

The article goes on to say how much the condos will cost, that a Capital One is going in the retail space on the ground level, etc. Doomed as doomed can be.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Stopping work at 123 Third Ave.

Posts that I never got around to posting: I guess Izod sweaters are in this fall

Metropolis on Third Avenue.

When it gets down to five seconds, very calmly START RUNNING

Thanks to EV Grieve reader dianeb for passing along the following shots of the fancy new walk-don't walk signs at 14th Street and Third Avenue...



As she noted, "Kind of cute, letting you know how much time you have until you're squashed by a truck."

The Village Pourhouse turns three (though it feels longer)

On Sunday, the Village Pourhouse at Third Avenue and 11th Street celebrated its third anniversary...



...and on this occasion, VP introduced its new Take Out Window... (The window has been there for some time, though apparently was never put to use... )



Over the past three years, the Pourhouse has helped bring numerous cultural events to the East Village, including the Snuggie Pub Crawl, the King of Pop Pub Crawl, the Toga Pub Crawl, the Halloween Pub Crawl, the 11th Annual Luck of the Irish St Patrick’s Pub Crawl, the Halloween Hangover Pub Crawl, the Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl, the Olympic Pub Crawl...

Never been to the place myself. So I went to Yelp to find out what the people think. A sampling of various reviews...

Two stars!

Yes, it's right next to the NYU dorms, so there's bound to be trashiness and other obnox-auchery going on.

Sure, the food and cheap beer will attract ditzy, but hot, girls and ditzy, fratty guys, all of whom at one point of the evening will be spilling drinks on you, stepping on you, or crotch spooning you or all of the above.

Whatever. (I, of all people, can appreciate any or all of these things.)

But really. Really? This place attracts the douchiest crowd ever.

That's the bottom line. It's not really about the place, or the set up, or anything like that. It's merely the fact that for some reason, 90% of the people who spend a majority of their night here, end up being really irritating, obnoxious, trashy drunks.

And honey, it's okay to be drunk and messy and sometimes funny - even when you're not trying to be --

But for goodness sake, this isn't Hoboken. Now stop crying about how your boyfriend doesn't love you and get away from this congregation of douchebags.

Three stars.

Strange but pretty girl walks up to me...moves her scarf, insists i look at her chest and asks if I like Kansas...

she is making her breasts jump up and down and I realize she is wearing a Jay Hawks shirt. I hardly notice cause all I see are breasts...I don't lie...I say, I didnt even know who the jay hawks were until just now but from what i see i'd gladly learn more about them...she starts talking...i hear womp womp womp, womp womp womp, womp womp womp womp...not in that order. I come out of my fog and realize, she is still talking...and i remember some of the womps as south dakota then kansas then dc then New York. Then she excuses herself to go talk to her friend...yay.

And four stars...

Friendly staff, lots of tv's showcasing a variety of sports, three large rooms, great owners, great beer selection, food is simple but executed well. This is a sports bar and it accomplishes its goal.

Atmosphere is a bit on the popped collar side but it's a sports bar, so the whole goal is to attract sports fans, and if you don't like watching sports, then don't go to a sports bar, which you will notice because of the trail of polo shirts that lead you through the door :)

There you have it! Meanwhile, I keep hearing womp womp womp, womp womp womp, womp womp womp womp...

From burritos to bagels

The former Border Burrito on Third Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street is becoming a joint called Everything Bagels Cafe.



But they sell more than just bagels, such as appetizing lads. Yuck!



Check that! Appetizing SALADS. Sorry!

Posts that I never got around to posting: Ashlee Simpson-Wentz's transition to TV star going as well as expected

On Third Avenue near 12th Street.

Cafe DeVille closed for the rest of the month

And keeping this restaurant theme going...Cafe DeVille on Third Avenue at 13th Street is closed for a holiday the rest of the month.



Hmm, OK...it's one thing for a mom-and-pop shop to close for a few weeks, but a fairly large place like this that employs so many people...?

Ad for Julia Child movie is oddly erotic

First, though, the latest ad to grace the building on Third Avenue near 12th Street.



And, um. Really? I'll say nothing else, in fear that I will appear in a blurb for the movie...

"Julie & Julia is finger-lickin' good!"
-- EV Grieve