Showing posts with label shitshows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shitshows. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2012

Empellon Cocina now hiring for 'highly anticipated opening'

During the weekend, we saw workers puttering around with a new awning at Empellon Cocina (the former home of Counter), the First Avenue outpost of chef Alex Stupak's West Village Mexican eatery....


...we took a closer look and spotted a hiring sign of sorts...


"This is going to be one of the most highly anticipated openings of 2012 and we have set high standards for ourselves."

Now you know.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Restaurant (turnover) row on First Avenue

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Breaking: Japadog opening on Jan. 5; lines to start forming Jan. 2

[Friday outside the Japadogster home, by Bobby Williams]

Grub Street hears that the Japadog location is opening at 30 St. Mark's Place on Jan. 5. (They have a copy of the menu too.)

No word just yet when the lines will start forming ... so we'll go with Jan. 2. Bring your blankets!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cue the long lines: Japadog opening first New York City location on St. Mark's Place

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

[Updated] All the President's motorcades

A few moments ago on East 12th Street... as President Obama zipped through town ...

Via @PatriciaSexton ...


... and a little video shot by @AndrewGothelf ...



...EV Grieve reader Robbie sent along these shots... the endless motorcade heading west...


... and an officer telling residents that they need to still inside their apartment building...


Previously.

[Updated] East 12th Street prepped for Obama visit

As you likely know by now, President Obama is in town this evening... Among other things, he'll be holding a dinner fund-raiser thing at the Gotham Bar & Grill (we hear that the roasted cauliflower risotto is good!) on East 12th Street between University Place and Fifth Avenue...



Here are Officers Weber and Sanchez...


Meanwhile, multiple readers have noted an incredible NYPD presence in the area ... and there are reports of the NYPD randomly towing cars all along 12th Street — down to Avenue C. And a reader notes that parts of Avenue C are shut down. There's even a rumor that the fund-raiser tonight at a private residence is in the East Village (note to self: pick up some hummus).

[Thanks to Christina Holmes for the photos ... and Shawn Chittle for the tips]

Updated: A few photos from Bobby Williams...



Friday, November 11, 2011

Japadog opening next month on St. Mark's Place

Well, Japadog may be a scratch on the CB3/SLA agenda this month... but, according to the sign out front of the Dogsters first U.S. outlet, the place opens at 30 St. Mark's Place in December....


Previously on EV Grieve:
Cue the long lines: Japadog opening first New York City location on St. Mark's Place

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

[EVG Flashback] At Superdive

Originally posted on June 26, 2009...



Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)

A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!

To the reader's e-mail:

Upon entering, confronted with a wall of noise. It's *incredibly* loud. You can't make anything out — total wall of noise.

Near the door are some mini kegs stuck in ice. By the window are guys filling mugs from a mini kegerator. Very fratty, all around. Fratty smell, especially.

We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty? We get our drinks and head toward the front. The girls here are CUTE.

There is a live band in the back, playing under an enormous lit sign that reads APPLAUSE. The sign is always lit. I do not clap. There is a guy on piano, trying to sing over the noise, and he's accompanied by a drummer. They're playing "When a Man Loves a Woman."

There are plastic cups everywhere.

We go for another round of drinks. We ask how much, and the bartender says "Ummm.... 30?" as if we're bartering. We pay. It seems fair for the amount of drink we're walking away with.

A cringing girlfriend leading her man away from his friends.

A group of girls enter, high-fiving each other. They are cute.

A guy in a yellow shirt starts to lose composure, head in hands. He's had enough beer.

"Thriller" is played (the pianist/drummer are done now). There is cheering, dancing.

And that's about it. We get bored and go for pizza.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Cue the long lines: Japadog opening first New York City location on St. Mark's Place


Here come the lines. Japadog, the crazy popular Vancouver-based artisanal hot dog stands, is opening its first brick-and-mortar (whatever) shop on 30 St. Mark's Place.




Oh my. This will get really delirious.

Jeremiah Moss first brought us the possibility of a Japadog invasion back in March 2010.

Per Jeremiah:

Knowing New York's current passion for (1) standing in line for trendy food, (2) all things Japanese, (3) adorable, artisanal sidewalk food vendors, and (4) cheap, white-trash food turned into semi-haute cuisine (burgers, cupcakes, bacon, pizza, et al.), I predict that Japadog will be immensely successful here.

He goes on.

[W]hen the now bigger, much more powerful Japadog announces plans for a three-story, outdoor, hot-dog and beer pleasure palace to be erected on a quiet street in "Nolita," the community will rally against them, successfully blocking construction.

Read the whole post here.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Diablo Royale aiming to license basement bar


Also on Monday night's CB3/SLA committee agenda...

Alterations/Upgrades
• Diablo Royale (East Village Café & Restaurant LLC), 167 Ave A (alt/op)

According to CB3 documents (PDF), Diablo Royale is hoping to: "license existing bar in basement; additional seating; relocate bathroom."

This could get interesting. The last time owner Jason Hennings came before the subcommittee, in November 2010, he blasted Avenue A residents for their "blasphemous lies." Hennings and his attorney were present to discuss a review of the stipulations that the bi-level Mexican eatery-saloonery agreed to prior to opening in May 2010.

Flashback to EVG coverage of that meeting:

Avenue A resident Andrew Coamey said that during the bar's Halloween party, Hennings allegedly approached him on the sidewalk ... that he would see him in 10 years and Coamey "would still be complaining about gentrification." At the time of the confrontation, Hennings was dressed as a gladiator.

After hearing a handful of residents speak out, Hennings called their claims "blasphemous lies." He apologized to the committee for being so upset, but that sitting there and hearing the residents was "angst provoking."

And here is the rest of the slate for the night. Right here.

Monday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth St. at Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Diablo Royale Este owner blasts the 'blasphemous lies' of residents, invites the State Liquor Authority to investigate

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

There was a line for the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop pretty much all weekend long


At least when we looked. Here's a photo from last night. They opened on Saturday. You may have heard about it. Anyway, someone finally topped "The Help" at the weekend box office.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

A Big Gay Ice Cream opening with drag queens and roller derby girls

Today at noon, a Trader Joe's-like line formed for the good humor grand opening of the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop on Seventh Street... and Dave on 7th was there...





And a little video action...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

R-Pattz films a scene at the Pearl Diner

Just a little bit ago...



Later, a group of teens were excited to photograph the QM-11 to Forest Hills.



OK, OK...R-Pattz was headed back to his town car.

Pearl Street Diner closed, but just for today because of R-Pattz



I really hate going up to my favorite places and seeing a sign tacked to the door. I always fear the worst. Like when I went up to the Pearl Street Diner in the Financial District yesterday for lunch.



OK, I can live with this for one day. And filming for the new R-Pattz film "Remember Me" takes place here today. Remember to leave your screaming teens at home.



[Top Pearl Street Diner photo via]

Friday, July 10, 2009

Noted

"East Village nightlife needed something like Superdive to come along." (L Magazine)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Superdive Diaries, Part Two


Another EV Grieve reader bravely entered Superdive over the weekend and filed this rather random list of bulleted points via e-mail:

• First makout sessions by 8:30. A guy hard-core kissing a girl's neck like it was 1984 at 1:00 AM.

• Beer pong

• The manager(?) saying to me they were all reserved for the
next two weeks.

• You can get a Stella keg for $450.

• Seems to be a bar to relive college. Beer pong (except I never played this) and a lot of shots

• All drinks are in plastic cups

• Can i reserve a place for 10-15 people? with a keg?

• Hipster wannabee bartenders. friendly but there's arrogance like they're on the red carpet

Beer pong. Again, beer pong. Do I need to say more?

• I feared for my life when I walked out. I deserved to be beat up. I felt shame. Superdive has nothing to do with the east village.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Superdive Diaries

At Superdive: "Went here for my bachelorette this weekend and was able to do a keg stand, bartend, dj, and dance on tables"

Sure, some EVG readers haven't been thrilled by Superdive. But over at Yelp, the reviews are starting to come in... and they've all been positive: Four stars (out of five) on average. Here are some excerpts:

"Went here for my bachelorette this weekend and was able to do a keg stand, bartend, dj, and dance on tables. That basically sums it up."


And!

Oh boy. This bar is complete madness... it is the place frat guys dream about. You can make your own drinks or buy an entire keg for your table. There is a random assortment of instruments in case you feel the need to play one and the DJ station is up for grabs, as long as you use your own Ipod. I'd like to tell you more, but I honestly can't remember...




Meanwhile, ForSureNot.com weighs in as well. FSN's take?:

Is this going to be the greatest bar that New York has ever seen? ...

It’s like the goddamn Wild West. I hope that they have a set of those swinging half-doors one of those saloon pianos that play by themselves and spittoons on the floor.

A Revolutionary Free For All with kegs and booze -– Please excuse me while I go get some tissues for John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to dry their eyes.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Guess where? "Frattier than the frattiest frat party"


Eater has another reader report on the Greatest Shitshow of Them All, Superdive. Of course.

"I checked out the now imfamous Superdive last night, and I was blown away by the place. I paid $7 to mix my own drink (blacklable on ice, filled to the rim), was with a group that bought a keg, and smelled the aroma of weed. I can also say the place is frattier than the frattiest frat party imaginable, and was populated by about 90% business-casual clad iBanker types, and the plain-looking, done-up to the nines girls that follow them around. I have absolutely no idea how that place plans to stay open, there are potential liabilities EVERYWHERE (health violations, SLA, lawsuits, whatever). The place is a massive house of cards."


Previously on EV Grieve.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

R-Pattz filming on Seventh Street TOMORROW



Yes, this is none other than the Robert Pattinson film "Remember Me." Given his devoted teen following, should be a good day for the FroYo and cupcake shops nearby. [Update: Spotted this sign between First Avenue and Second Avenue, and figure that's where the action will bee...]

Previously on EV Grieve:
273 Mott St. in danger of collapsing; Robert Pattinson fans don't seem to notice

Friday, June 26, 2009

At Superdive



Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)

A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!

To the reader's e-mail:

Upon entering, confronted with a wall of noise. It's *incredibly* loud. You can't make anything out — total wall of noise.

Near the door are some mini kegs stuck in ice. By the window are guys filling mugs from a mini kegerator. Very fratty, all around. Fratty smell, especially.

We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty? We get our drinks and head toward the front. The girls here are CUTE.

There is a live band in the back, playing under an enormous lit sign that reads APPLAUSE. The sign is always lit. I do not clap. There is a guy on piano, trying to sing over the noise, and he's accompanied by a drummer. They're playing "When a Man Loves a Woman."

There are plastic cups everywhere.

We go for another round of drinks. We ask how much, and the bartender says "Ummm.... 30?" as if we're bartering. We pay. It seems fair for the amount of drink we're walking away with.

A cringing girlfriend leading her man away from his friends.

A group of girls enter, high-fiving each other. They are cute.

A guy in a yellow shirt starts to lose composure, head in hands. He's had enough beer.

"Thriller" is played (the pianist/drummer are done now). There is cheering, dancing.

And that's about it. We get bored and go for pizza.