More details about the new Avenue A project from Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield

[Photo from February]

As we first reported yesterday, high-profile restaurateurs Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield are hoping to open a cafe-bar concept in the former San Loco space at 151 Avenue A.

The paperwork (PDF!) filed ahead of this month's CB3/SLA committee meeting on May 12 offers a few more details on the concept. The documents at the CB3 website show a cafe/bar with five tables seating 10-12 people, and a bar with a 7-person capacity.

Here is the diagram that accompanies the paperwork…



Meanwhile, the proposed kitchen hours are 7 a.m. to 4 a.m. And here is the sample menu…


[Click on image to enlarge]

Although nothing on file at the CB3 website has Friedman and Bloomfield's name attached to it, multiple people have told us they are behind this project … perhaps they will even make an appearance tonight to discuss their plans with the North Avenue A Neighborhood Association…



Updated 10:04 a.m.

Eater offers some Friedman-Bloomfield history this morning:

It's also worth noting that in the past, they have gone through the process of applying for liquor licenses many times without actually committing to the spaces they were eyeing.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield eyeing the former San Loco space on Avenue A

Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield eyeing the former San Loco space on Avenue A

[Photo from February]

San Loco closed on Feb. 16 after 15 years at 151 Avenue A, as we first reported here.

Word is now that high-profile restaurateurs Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield are eyeing the former San Loco location for a cafe-bar concept that would be open early for breakfast … and late night for cocktails (with lunch and dinner in between). The place would curate a specific coffee, wine and cocktail program.

This application is on the May CB3/SLA agenda released yesterday (though their names aren't on it just yet).

Friedman and Bloomfield own such places as high-profile places like The Spotted Pig, The Breslin and The John Dory Oyster Bar … while Friedman has teamed with the likes of Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter at The Monkey Bar and Taavo Somer at The Rusty Knot.

Avenue A looks to be going even more upscale in a hurry … with projects such as this, the all-new 7A and Alex Stupak's new Mexican restaurant at the former Sushi Lounge space.

Dutch Kills crew aiming to take over former Mercadito Cantina space on Avenue B

Looks as if the former Mercadito Cantina space on Avenue B near East 11th Street is getting a big-name suitor. The flyer attached to the window shows that applicants repping a new bar/tavern called The Asphalt Jungle will be on the April 8 CB3/SLA committee docket...



... and (at least) two of the names involved are part of the team behind Dutch Kills, the popular Long Island City cocktail lounge where bartenders hand-cut block ice down to size for cocktails behind the bar. (You can read more about their ice program here at the Times and here at Forbes.)



One of the applicants, Richie Boccato, is a veteran of Milk & Honey. He also co-owns tiki lounge Painkiller/PKNY on Essex Street, among other ventures (including Sweetleaf). We emailed Boccato yesterday afternoon to find out more about The Asphalt Jungle.

Mercadito Cantina closed in January 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About Mercadito Cantina closing:'Open letter to EV Grieve and CB3' (58 comments)

Wylie Dufresne bringing fancy cocktails for foodies to former Plum Pizzeria on Second Avenue

Here's some foodie action for this stretch of Avenue Woo. Grub Street is reporting that noted LES chef Wylie Dufresne (of wd~50 on Clinton Street) is opening a place at the former Plum Pizzeria at 157 Second Avenue.

Per Grub Street:

Alder will be a 50-seat pub. It will open in the former Plum Pizzeria space ... The kitchen will serve "modern casual food and well-crafted cocktails," according to a rep for the restaurant. The name Alder is the Old English analog for Ellery, the name of Dufresne's second daughter.

Opening tonight, Pouring Ribbons on Avenue B, featuring drink matrix

Back in November, we noted that an "artisanal cocktail bar" was in the works for 225 Avenue B, the upstairs space that most recently was home to White Noise and Uncle Ming's. Per Zagat, this new bar, called Pouring Ribbons, (soft) opens tonight.

The bar is by the people at Alchemy Consulting — described on its website as "a firm based on increasing the profitability of bars and restaurants around the country through innovative beverage design." New York clients include Bar Seven Five at the Andaz Wall Street

As Zagat notes about Pouring Ribbons:

Each beverage is plotted on two scales, one ranging from refreshing to spiritous, the other from comforting to adventurous. Booze hounds are sure to go for the Hagar and Helga, the most spirit forward and exciting of the bunch — it's a mix of Linine Aquavit, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, cumin syrup and cinnamon bitters.

You can find that drink menu here.

Meanwhile, how many artisanal cocktail bars can one neighborhood possibly support?

[Photo via Zagat]

'Artisinal cocktail bar' in the works for Avenue B

Most of the items on tonight's CB3/SLA docket are pretty straightforward ... exisiting places looking to upgrade or transfer a license... or a known entity, such as The Bean, applying for a liquor license...

One of the more curious items is:

• Pouring Ribbons (Lead to Gold Inc), 225 Ave B (op)

This is the upstairs space that has been home to White Noise and Uncle Ming's ...

According to documents (PDF) on file with CB3, the team behind Alchemy Consulting is taking over this space. If their names are on the application, then it's likely safe to assume that they are taking a more active role than just creating a drinks menu, like they have for, say, The Rusty Knot.

As you can see from the screengrabs below, the place is being described as an "artisanal cocktail bar" that will, aside from cocktails, serve "locally sourced sandwiches, crudite, hummus and desserts."

Alchemy Consulting is described its website as "a firm based on increasing the profitability of bars and restaurants around the country through innovative beverage design." New York clients include Bar Seven Five at the Andaz Wall Street and the bars at the Hotel Williamsburg.

Here's the description of Bar Seven Five:

Revolutionizing the traditional New York bar concept, Bar Seven Five combines modern accessibility and classic cocktails in the heart of Lower Manhattan. The central bar, fast becoming one of New York City’s most popular lounges, features neither front nor back, so patrons can enjoy complete ease of interaction with their designated bartender while watching their cocktails being prepared. Using artisanal ingredients, the staff at Bar Seven Five works to create classic cocktails with an emphasis on pre-prohibition design. Taking inspiration from the turn-of-the-century Pullman train car bars, each cocktail is individually prepared, served, and garnished directly in front of the guest in a miniature shaker.