EV Grieve

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Caratoes on 12th and C

EVG reader Robert Galinsky reports that the mural wall on East 12th Street at Avenue C (aka The 12C Canvas for Positivity) has a new addition.

The artist is CaraToes, who's from Belgium-born street artist now living in Hong Kong. She has been in NYC for a month, completing six murals throughout the five boroughs ...

Monday, October 27, 2014

[Updated] Things that you might be able to briefly see streak across the sky this evening

On the East Coast? You might see the #Antares launch to @Space_Station tonight at 6:45pm ET http://t.co/mOT13ggfmS pic.twitter.com/1fTczDdfYY
— NASA (@NASA) October 27, 2014

And despite the rumors, it is NOT a promo for "Interstellar."

Updated
Ah, NASA aborted the launch... "due to a boat downrange in the hazard area."

We'll attempt to launch #Antares tomorrow at 6:22pm ET. Learn more about #Cygnus: http://t.co/6Bo6KBRWnG pic.twitter.com/jDLpmZ9rgN
— NASA (@NASA) October 27, 2014

Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at NASA's Minotaur Rocket streaking across the East Village sky

H/T EVG reader Steven

Report: Attorney General takes down notorious 'tenant relocator'

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has reportedly put a notorious "tenant relocator" out of business.

Through the years, tenants of rent-controlled apartments say that Michel Pimienta has threatened them with eviction or accused them of illegal sub-letting — "anything to get them out so the landlord can start collecting hefty market rate rent in gentrifying neighborhoods," the Daily News reported.

Fielding dozens of complaints from frightened tenants, Schneiderman last week got Pimienta to agree to pay a $40,000 fine and give up his "relocation" efforts.

“This agreement will help ensure that lawful tenants are not harassed or pressured into giving up their homes by an unlicensed and unscrupulous tenant relocater,” Schneiderman said.

The article doesn't mention which landlords hired Pimienta through the years.

He was well-known on the Lower East Side and in the East Village.

As far back as 2005, Pimienta was red-flagged by state regulators after harassing a tenant in the East Village by accusing him of running a brothel.

To settle that complaint, the tenants' landlord agreed to terminate Pimienta.

But he didn't go away.

"We're surprised at how brazen this guy is," said Brandon Kielbasa, tenant organizer with the nonprofit Cooper Square Committee.

The article notes that the AG's case against another tenant relocator, Steve Croman heavy Anthony Falconite, is pending.

Photo of Michel Pimienta via the Daily News

FREE TO A GOOD HOME

A reader let us know that ... this green thing is sitting outside Theatre 80 at 80 St. Mark's Place ... and it is free right now — 11:14 a.m. ... looks like it could hold up to four roommates, so there may be some income potential.

Signs of life at East Village Radio, but what does it mean?

There's been some activity around East Village Radio, which signed off after 11 years on May 23.

First, someone changed the station's Facebook profile picture on Friday… and the EVR website now has this message…

… and on Saturday, we noticed a worker making some sort of repair at the tiny storefront studio at 19 First Ave.

We don't know what, if anything, these three things might mean… we reached out to the EVR folks to see what's what.

As we first reported, EVR CEO Frank Prisinzano said that he could no longer afford the increasing licensing costs for the Internet radio station … and made the difficult decision to shut down operations.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Exclusive: East Village Radio is signing off after 11 years; final day of broadcasting is May 23 (53 comments)

Something new to take home on Avenue A

An EVG reader noted that the sign went up Saturday for the new restaurant taking over the former San Loco space at 151 Avenue A — TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken.

Word here is "chicken, green beens, roasted potatoes, etc. to go. … nothing like we have ever had before. Very fresh."

The San Loco closed here between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street back in February. The CB3/SLA Liquor Licensing Committee voted to deny high-profile restaurateurs Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield a license to open a ~~bar~~ cafe here in May.

No word on an opening date for TakeMeHome just yet.

First sign of Rosie's Mexican, coming soon to 2nd Avenue

Signs are up now for Rosie's Mexican, the incoming restaurant from Vicki Freeman, Marc Meyer and Chris Paraskevaides, who own Cookshop, Hundred Acres and Five Points …

According to a fall preview at Zagat, the restaurant on the corner of Second Avenue and East Second Street will be "based on Meyer's travels to Mexico. Expect market-driven dishes cooked on a comal flattop grill as well as stews, homemade tortillas and more."

The Greek-themed Boukiés closed in March after a two-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Boukiés has 'permanently closed' on Second Avenue

For sale: Everything must go at the former Boukiés space on 2nd Avenue

NYC's 1st bar for pregnant women goes belly up on Avenue A

The month-long reign of this unfunny marketing campaign on Avenue A and East Fifth Street is over… so long to Gestations — "NYC's first bar for pregnant women"…

The ads for whatever the app was came down on Friday. The whole campaign seemingly came to a halt on Oct. 6, the last day that someone posted to the Gestations Facebook page…

Last we heard the long-empty storefront would soon be home to a veterinarian's office.

Previously on EV Grieve:
No, 'NYC's first bar for pregnant women' isn't opening on Avenue A

People behind Gestations still pretending to be opening a bar for pregnant women on Avenue A

Amateur building inspector offering input outside 137 Avenue C

As we've pointed out, there's a building-wide gut renovation underway at 137 Avenue C … somehow, they're going to throw an extra floor atop the building that seems to lean a bit…

Meanwhile, someone has written this on the plywood …

… and does this read "this will fall" or "this will fail"? Well, either way — we get the idea…

If this is helpful…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Renovations in store for 137 Avenue C, home to the Sunburnt Cow

The Sunburnt Cow closes for good at the end of this month

137 Avenue C, hollow on the inside

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

There's now activity at the Amato Opera building at 319 Bowery … the work permits have been posted… (the city issued them on Thursday)…

Landlord Steve Croman finally received DOB approval last month to convert the former theater between East First Street and East Second Street into a commercial and residential building. Documents show that there will be one residence on each floor above the retail space.

Amato Opera ended its long run on May 31, 2009. Anthony Amato, the company's founder, died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Sunday, October 26, 2014

The birds

Late this afternoon atop East 10th Street and Avenue D via Bobby Williams...

Humans nature

We're sorry that we missed the last free concert in Tompkins Square Park for the year... we wanted to see Dawn of Humans (and all the bands!) ... so we borrowed these Dawn of Humans photos from Slum Goddess via Facebook...

Week in Grieview

[Avenue A]

Police make an arrest in attempted Stuy Town rape (Monday)

More funding for the Bowery Mission (Tuesday)

1st permits filed for renovation of Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street (Monday)

Vacate orders at 338 E. Sixth St. (Friday)

The R Bar closes on the Bowery (Thursday)

Police arrest man who reportedly robbed the Chase branch on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Korilla BBQ officially opens (Friday)

Out and About with Elissa (Wednesday)

Mile High Run Club gets its treadmills on East Fourth Street (Monday)

Here comes Checkers (Wednesday)

More about Zoltar moving to the left (Saturday)

First sign of the new 7-floor condo rising above the Jehovah's Witnesses on Avenue C (Tuesday)

Grey Era priced out of East Ninth Street (Friday)

Santa Barbara Deli Superette will return with a shorter name (Thursday)

No more letters at the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (Monday)

Former Avenue A laundromat 'is perfect for anyone with an exciting hip concept for a bar or restaurant' (Friday)

The Thirsty Buddha has closed; Taqueria St. Mark's on deck (Monday)

Report: Kevin McEnroe bought baking soda, not cocaine, last summer on East Fourth Street and Avenue A (Thursday)

You'll never drive on this section of Astor Place again (Tuesday)

The former Joselito space for rent on Avenue D (Tuesday)

And from Friday… the Walgreens on Astor Place was decked out for a TV commercial… (hopefully)