The wisteria house sells for $3.65 million on Stuyvesant Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

The landmarked wisteria-covered townhouse at 35 Stuyvesant St. has new owners. 

The four-bedroom home sold for $3.65 million in a transaction posted in late June, according to property records. 

A couple with children who currently live in Soho are the buyers. The 3,584-square-foot, five-story house had most recently been listed at $3.895 million. The property entered contract in March. 

The architecturally significant townhouse, built in 1861 by James Renwick Jr., has long been one of the East Village's most photographed homes ... in part of the enclave often called the Renwick Triangle, a cluster of mid-19th-century homes shaped by the unusual meeting of Stuyvesant Street and 10th Street.

The listing made clear that the new owners would be taking on a project, opening with: "Bring your architect."

That said, the usual broker babble was more sensitive than usual in this case:

Myriad details convey the house's historic significance: five fireplaces and their marble mantles; intricate tin ceilings; exposed brick; decorative wood paneling. Above, an unfinished roof presents the opportunity to create a bright and impressive private outdoor space with striking views of the neighborhood. 

In a Curbed article from March titled "The Stunning Little Money Pit on Stuyvesant Street," a real-estate agent suggested the buyer would be a well-off creative type — "Someone who is going to have to have really deep pockets and a lot of time on their hands."

And it appears that work is getting underway. Permits for townhouse-wide renovations were issued on July 13.

And yes, we'll be checking on the wisteria next spring.

A come-to-Jesus moment on the TF at Tompkins Square Park

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Written by EVG 

A month after Hell Ride departed the Tompkins Square Park TF, its successor has arrived from a higher authority. 

Last month, the Hell Ride ramp disappeared from the Tompkins Square Park skateboard area after a relatively brief run. We were told that the Sunday field hockey players had lodged a complaint about the installation. 

At the time, an EVG reader suggested that perhaps the ramp would have been OK without the "Hell." 

And so yesterday, a group of skaters unveiled something bigger: Holy Ride.

The new three-ramp installation features Jesus, arms outstretched, riding a skateboard, flanked by the words "Holy" and "Ride."

Franco The Thirteenth created the artwork and, we're told, was also the artist behind Hell Ride.

The installation on this hot August afternoon required plenty of 2x4s, drill bits, teamwork and some impressive acrobatics as the crew maneuvered the oversized pieces into place.

A local artist even stopped by to sketch the proceedings.

The new addition was already getting plenty of attention — and reviews — before the work was finished. 

"These guys have no respect for Christ," one resident told us. 

Another observer had a different take: He thought Jesus would approve. 

Meanwhile, one woman had a more practical question: Why doesn't Jesus have a neck? 

We don't have an answer for that one. 

By late afternoon, Holy Ride was in place, and skaters were already putting it to use.

How long Holy Ride remains with us is in the hands of a higher power.

At Ecce, come for the pizza, stay for the Herman Melville tribute

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Ecce entered soft-open mode on Monday at 77 Second Ave., between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. 

So we stopped by for a look. (Previously) 

Aside from the square slices of spicy pepperoni and Margherita, one of the first things you'll notice is the handwritten wall created by owner Kyle Downey (below).

Downey painted the whole thing himself, freehand, using a paint marker — a process that took about 40 hours. 

The wall pays tribute to three people who inspired him: author Herman Melville, French composer Georges Bizet and Ferdinand Cheval, the French postal worker who spent decades building the Palais Idéal.

The text includes reviews of Bizet's "Carmen," inscriptions from Cheval's creation and reviews of Melville's work. 

Also pictured is front-of-house staffer Ashlee Powell, who was handling the musical programming during our visit, with some solid 1980s selections in the mix. (We expect as much from someone in a vintage Stevie Nicks T-shirt!)

We didn't sample any slices on this hot and muggy afternoon, though one customer who stopped in while we were there for a grandma slice and seemed quite pleased with his selection. There are also cinnamon knots for dessert ... cans of soda and bottles of water for hydration.

For now, opening hours are noon to 9 p.m. No website yet... and there's a placeholder Instagram account here.

Wednesday Parting Shots, partially eclipsed

Photos by Stacie Joy 

A few scenes from Ninth Street and Avenue A this afternoon as New Yorkers looked skyward for today's partial solar eclipse, which peaked around 1:54 p.m., with the moon blocking about 10% of the sun...

Remembering Chet Mazur

Chet Mazur on the cover of the Alice Donut record Mule from 1990 

Chet Mazur, a longtime presence in the local music scene, died this past weekend after being struck by a U.S. Postal Service truck in Hell's Kitchen. He was 66. 

According to published reports, Mazur was struck early Saturday morning near his home on West 55th Street and Ninth Avenue, where he had lived in recent years. The driver allegedly left the scene and was later arrested. 

Just hours earlier, Mazur had performed at Otto's Shrunken Head on 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B with his band the Rasslers. 

Mazur had been part of the downtown music and arts scene for decades. 

His death has prompted an outpouring of remembrances from friends and fellow musicians. 

"He was everywhere and knew everything and everybody," longtime friend and Alice Donut member Michael Jung told The City Reporter. "Everybody knows Chet, and everybody loves Chet." (Read more here: Stunned Friends Remember an East Village 'Torchbearer for Sleaze Rock.') 

And a few tributes from social media...

 

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Looking up: A partial solar eclipse for NYC today

Not the partial solar eclipse, but where a telescope will be on St. Mark's.

Photo by Kelley Ryan 

New Yorkers may get a glimpse of a partial eclipse this afternoon as the moon passes between Earth and the sun. 

According to NASA, the Aug. 12 event is a total solar eclipse, with the path of totality sweeping across Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and a small corner of Portugal. 

NYC is — duh — well outside that path but will experience a partial eclipse (maybe 9%?), along with other parts of the northern United States. 

Closer to home, a telescope viewing station will be set up at 99 St. Mark's Place between the tall sunflowers and the East Village Books poetry window ... between Avenue A and First Avenue. (Info courtesy of Doanlad Davis, owner of East Village Books.)

Mark Maretsky, a math instructor at Fordham University and amateur astronomer, will be on hand with a 3-inch-diameter refractor telescope. It is expected to begin at 1:07 and officially end at 3:38 p.m. 

A reminder: Always use certified solar-viewing or eclipse glasses when looking at the sun. Regular sunglasses aren't sufficient. If you don't have eclipse glasses, use an indirect viewing method such as a pinhole projector. 

NASA will also livestream the eclipse starting at 1:15 p.m. ET. 

Meanwhile, a Total Eclipse of the Heart is always available via YouTube.

Openings: Bellanova on 9th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Bellanova recently opened at 331 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The licensed cannabis dispensary has a noticeably different look and feel from some of the neighborhood's other shops. There are no guards at the entrance or mandatory checks before entering. 

The narrow, brightly lit space features blond wood throughout, with a focus on higher-end products.

Below, Yasmine Bernard, shift lead...

Owner Matthew Hennessy (below) said the idea was to create something more relaxed.

"We want people to feel welcome," he said. "The space is warm, inviting and natural, true to the roots of nature."

Hennessy also has longtime neighborhood ties. He grew up on 10th Street and skateboarded at the Tompkins Square Park TF under the auspices of the late Harold Hunter. He still lives nearby. 

Elizabeth McGrath of Corner Bistro is a co-owner of Bellanova. 

And perhaps not surprisingly, given McGrath's well-known affection for dogs, the shop is canine-friendly.

"We love dogs," Hennessy said. "Bring all the dogs!" 

Bellanova is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tuesday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

One of the young red-tailed hawks flexes today in Tompkins Square Park...

Sunday afternoon with the booyah! kids in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This past weekend saw the free two-day Show Brain Festival in Tompkins Square Park, featuring a lineup of 10 emerging bands. 

Here, we're focusing on the booyah! kids, a trio of NYC natives featuring Emma Lee...

...Aidan Ludlam...

... and Julian Kaufman...

The three take turns on lead vocals, with an intimate, DIY sound that pairs indie-pop sensibilities with lounge-y synth textures. (Their music has been described as "bedroom pop.") 

The band formed in 2018 and continued while the three attended college in different states. They have since released a full-length LP and several EPs, with a set of covers coming next. (A highlight Sunday was their take on Nelly's "Ride Wit Me" — the first time they played it live.) 

Between songs, Emma, an East Village native, talked about making another memory in Tompkins Square Park on this day. She recalled spending a lot of time there growing up — swimming in the mini pool with her brother and grabbing a slice at Nino's (RIP) on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place. She also gave shout-outs to her old East Village schools, the Neighborhood School and Tompkins Square Middle School.

You have a chance to catch the booyah! kids when they headline Night Club 101 on Avenue A on Sept. 26 as part of a five-city tour.

And a few faces in the crowd from their set ...

For lease: the former Francis Kite Club space on Avenue C

Photo by Stacie Joy 

A "for lease" sign is now hanging outside the former Francis Kite Club at 40 Avenue C between Third and Fourth streets. The hybrid bar, social club and arts venue closed after service on Aug. 1. 

As we reported last month, the owners initially cited a rent increase for making the operation unsustainable, later clarifying that rising costs for liability insurance, permits and rent all contributed to the decision. 

Francis Kite Club debuted in early 2024 and became known for its mix of live music, performances, art events and community gatherings.

The owners have said they're considering relocating and hope to reopen elsewhere. The club's website currently notes that they "hope to see you in a new iteration in the near future." 

Ownership did not respond to a previous query for more information. 

As for the Avenue C space, the current listing has the 2,400-square-foot storefront at $11,000 per month, marketed as a turnkey bar-restaurant.

One last go-go for White Trash

White Trash is having a closing party this Friday evening (Aug. 14) at 304 E. Fifth St. between First and Second avenues. 

The farewell is set for 7-10 p.m., with go-go dancers, music, drinks and snacks. 

As we reported last month, the vintage furniture and home furnishings shop is closing after 31 years in business. 

Owner Stuart Zamsky, 65, who co-founded White Trash in 1995 with his wife Kim Wurster, told us that a combination of increased rent and the condition of the storefront, and the prospect of having to work even harder to keep the business profitable, led him to decide that this was a good time to retire. 

The invite bills Friday's gathering as a toast to "the end of an era." Indeed!

A Petite Maison pop-up on Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Petite Maison, a pop-up featuring secondhand, upcycled and reimagined clothing and objects, is open through Sunday (Aug. 16) at 167 Avenue B between 10th and 11th streets. 

The shop is an offshoot of La Vie Après L’Amour, whose home base in Kingston, N.Y., includes a cafe, boutique and atelier. 

According to signage at the storefront, the collection focuses on secondhand items that have been "upcycled, mended, reimagined, and given a new life." 

Hours are noon-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

There's also a closing reception on Sunday, with Kingston-based singer-songwriter Ginger Winn playing a set at 3:30 p.m.

The brand got its start in a Brooklyn apartment back in 2018.

The Avenue B space was previously home to Hekate Cafe & Elixir Lounge.

Monday's parting shot (and 47-year-old classic film trailer)

You can catch one more screening of NYC classic "The Warriors" down at the Metrograph, 7 Ludlow St., just above Canal. 

The 1979 film plays this Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. as part of the "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" series. 

It was fun to see it again on a big screen in a nearly sold-out theater. (We last saw it in Tompkins Square Park in 2011.) 

There was some snickering in the audience during scenes that don't play as well 47 years later... including those menacing Punks in Union Square in denim overalls and striped rugby shirts who looked like they were on their way to spike the punch at a Sadie Hawkins dance. 

Can you dig it?

 

Tompkins Square Library branch books a temporary closure

Photos by Stacie Joy

The Tompkins Square Library is checking out a two-week late-summer break. 

The New York Public Library branch at 331 E. 10th St., between Avenue A and Avenue B, will be temporarily closed from today through Aug. 22 for "needed building work ahead of next year's major renovation," per door signage for patrons.

During the closure, patrons are encouraged to use the Ottendorfer Library, Seward Park Library or Epiphany Library. Hold requests made during the closure can be picked up at Ottendorfer, 135 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

The temporary closure comes ahead of a $30.2 million comprehensive renovation of the 122-year-old Carnegie branch, as we first reported here. The project, now in the design phase, will reconfigure the library to create dedicated spaces for children, teens and adults.

Plans also call for ADA upgrades to the entrance, bathrooms and elevator, along with new furniture, upgraded technology and modernized building systems. 

Construction on the major renovation is currently projected to be completed in December 2028. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Community input wanted for the $30.2 million renovation of the Tompkins Square Library

St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery looks to the air for its future

St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery received city approval for a plan to sell some of its unused development rights to a proposed residential project on Third Avenue.

As The Living Church magazine first reported, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved the transfer on July 21, allowing the historic church at 131 E. 10th St. at Second Avenue to sell air rights (aka transferable development rights).

The rights would be transferred to a development site at 50-64 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street. Kinsmen Property Group, a joint venture between State Building Group and Madison Group, is planning a residential building of up to 160,000 square feet at the site, as we've been reporting. 

The deal is notable because the receiving property isn't directly adjacent to St. Mark's. Changes enacted under the city's City of Yes zoning overhaul expanded where landmarked properties can transfer their unused development rights. 

The process came before Community Board 3 in June, when members approved a continuing maintenance plan required for the transfer. Beyer Blinder Belle Architects conducted a conditions survey of the church and developed a plan that prioritizes critical repairs, with additional maintenance taking place over several years. 

The sale is expected to close by year’s end. Until then, details of the agreement, including the sale price, remain confidential.

According to The Living Church, the sale will provide greater financial stability for maintaining the landmark while allowing operating income. 

"We don't have to worry about these vital repairs anymore…instead, we can say, we 'have these things covered.' We can keep our building in sound repair, and we can continue to do the vital mission work and ministry work that we've been doing for so long," the Rev. Anne Marie Witchger, rector of the church, told the publication.

The current St. Mark's Church building was completed in 1799 on a site with a history of worship dating to the 17th century. It is one of the oldest church buildings in Manhattan.