Your chance to help create a Community Gardens District

[EVG file photo of Orchard Alley on East 4th Street]

Community Board 3 (CB3) member Bill LoSasso, who's a community gardener, passed along the following letter...

As you may know, a Coalition has formed to pursue permanence of the community gardens within the boundaries of CB3. Our community has an wonderful abundance of community gardens which provide numerous environmental, ecological, cultural, social, historical, aesthetic, and economic benefits, and more, to our neighborhoods.

If you believe that these gardens are valuable assets to our community that deserve every type of protection possible, please take 20 seconds to sign the petition below as we pursue the cause of having all gardens declared parklands and designated as part of a designated Community Gardens District. Once designated as parklands, it would take an act of the New York State legislature to alienate the land for a use other than open space.

Help preserve community gardens right here.

And here are more details from the petition...

CB3 is the birthplace of community gardens in New York City and New York State. In 1973, the first garden was established in CB3 by local activists who worked to reverse years of decline and neglect by public and private property owners.

At one time, there were 57 registered community gardens in CB3, and dozens more operating independently. As the neighborhood evolved, however, numerous gardens were bulldozed as development proceeded.

Today, there are still 46 community gardens located in CB3 — the highest density in New York City. Community Board 3 has been strengthened by the history of its community gardens, which provide environmental, cultural, aesthetic, ecological, economic, and artistic benefits to this community, and more.

Let's take a look at Seven East Village, the new luxury condos now for sale at 7th and D

Sales are now underway at 277 E. Seventh St., the luxury condos near Avenue D now going by Seven East Village ... complete with this for the branding — the shirtless, bearded guy riding a (Citi?) Bike on First Avenue at St. Mark's Place (inexplicably standing in for East Seventh Street)...



Curbed swung by the kick-off event (we were not invited!) the other night (where they raffled off a Vespa!). You can head over there for a lot of photos of the model units and people in suits and stuff.

So far, just two of the six units are on the market, including Penthouse B ($2.05 million).

Let's take a look at the OMG listing from the gang at Nest Seekers (the official building site is here):

Penthouse B spans its own private floor and encompasses more than 1,300 Square Feet. With direct and exclusive entry via your own private keyed elevator entrance, you are welcomed to a grand living room with 12 feet of southern facing, fully-collapsible, floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto a generous balcony. Wide-plank, Forest Stewardship Council white oak floors grace the home throughout.

The kitchen, a piece of art in its own right, boasts Italian crafted cabinetry, waterfall countertops, and appliances from Bertazonni and Fisher & Paykel. The master bedroom, with an en-suite bath and its own terrace, is its own paradise.

The second bedroom is equally as large with great closet space. Each feature one-inch thick windows made of sound-attenuating thermal high performance glass. The spacious baths includes custom Italian vanities, radiant heated floors, Porcelanosa tiles, a frameless shower and Zuma Collection soaking tub. The home is fit with built-in speakers, a 3-zone climate control system, and washer/dryer. The roof deck is complete with a state-of-the-art electric grill, a Caesarstone countertop, sink, and Ipe wood cabinets, along with spacious dining and entertaining space.

Let's look at some photos from this unit...









Looks nice!

Of course, it seems like a lot of the neighbors already hate this building given the incessant noise from construction. Which may be why Curbed's correspondent overheard this at the event:

A woman on the street yelling, "Hey! Look! Assholes moving to the neighborhood!" at the people on the second floor Juliet balcony.

Previously on EV Grieve:
277 E. 7th St. condos rebranded 'Seven East Village,' and will feature a bike-sharing program (23 comments)

Random shirtless, bearded guy on a bike now helping market luxury condos at 277 E. 7th St.

The next sliver of space for development: The parking lot at 277 Seventh St.

Seventh Street parking lot destined to become 6-floor apartment building

Arrow Bar has closed on Avenue A

The subterranean space with a good happy hour at 85 Avenue A between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street recently called it quits…



The bar, owned by two former employees of Pianos on Ludlow Street, had a pretty good run here (what was it — 7 years?). One tipster told us the closure wasn't rent related, rather business was off and management couldn't make it work anymore.

There isn't mention of the closure on the bar's website or Facebook page.

The rent is due at the former Back Forty

[Image via]

Back Forty rather abruptly shut down after service on Dec. 21.

Chef and owner Peter Hoffman told Eater that "a difficult landscape and lease uncertainty" led to the decision to close the 7-year-old restaurant at 190 Avenue B near East 12th Street.

The space is now for rent.

Meanwhile, several readers noted that there are "three day rent demand" flyers hanging on the storefront.

There are two. One for the "north store," where the total due rent is $7,800.84 ($3,942 a month) for "rent due and owing" ...


[Photo via Tania Vargas]

... and at the "south store," the total rent due is $11.001.12 ($5,500.56 a month) ...



So if our counting is any good... total rent for the space was $9,442.56. Curious what the landlord wanted to jack up the rent to... if a seemingly popular place like Back Forty couldn't make a go of it anymore...

Now open: Fantastic Tea Shop on East 4th Street

EVG reader Ben let's us know that Fantastic Tea Shop has opened at 128 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

We don't know too much about the space just yet… but we'll add it to our growing list of new East Village cafes.

NYPD looking for suspect in 5 sexual assaults, including 2 in the East Village

A man wanted in connection with two sexual assaults in East Village buildings near the FDR last month is also suspected of three other attacks, the NYPD said.

The most recent incident occurred early yesterday morning. As DNAinfo reports:

The man, who was caught on surveillance video wearing a black Yankees baseball cap, most recently snuck up behind a 31-year-old woman as she entered her apartment building near Chrystie Street on Jan. 14 at 2:30 a.m., police said.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her pants down but pushed her away and fled when she screamed, police said.

Gothamist posted video of the suspect.



Here is the latest description of the suspect, via Gothamist: "a black male, approximately 5'4" to 5'11", 20-25-years-old, 150-180 lbs., with a dark complexion."

Gothamist also has details on each attack.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online

Open Pantry is now selling off its inventory and equipment

Last Thursday, we passed along the sad news that Open Pantry was going to close it 45-year-old coffee shop/grocery at 184 Second Ave. in the weeks ahead.



The sign above on the Open Pantry front door explains.

There's now a listing on Craigslist noting that the store is selling its inventory and equipment.

Not much info is featured on the listing (including the name Open Pantry, but the photos all show the familiar interior) ...



Several readers on our previous post said that the proprietors, the Pappas family, also own the building here between East 11th Street and East 12th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 40-plus years, Open Pantry looks to be closing on 2nd Avenue

Construction crews spotted at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

Reps for billionaire art collector Peter Brant, also the new owner of 421 E. Sixth St., filed work permits back in October for the former home-studio of artist Walter De Maria.

The plans for now just call for the rather generic "removal of interior non loading bearing partitions and related finishes" here between Avenue A and First Avenue.

EVG regular peter radley spotted a work crew inside the space yesterday...





Brant told the Times last October that he plans on opening an exhibition space here in a few years.

There was a show in this space last December titled "Dan Colen: The L...o...n...g Count." However, that was reportedly not a project of the Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, Conn.

No. 421 was built in 1920 as a ConEd substation, but had been converted into a photography studio after De Maria bought it in 1980.

De Maria died of a stroke in July 2013 at age 77.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street

RIP Walter De Maria

What is your East Village dream home?

Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect

Walter De Maria's home/studio on East 6th Street is now on the market for $25 million

Rumor: The Brant Foundation buying Walter De Maria's E. 6th St. studio for an exhibition space (19 comments)

Confirmed: Peter M. Brant buys Walter De Maria's amazing East 6th Street home and studio

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

A soft opening at the Brant Foundation's new space at Walter De Maria's former East 6th Street studio

More about the 1st show at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

Venezuelan favorite Guayoyo remains temporarily closed after basement fire

A fire broke out in the basement of 133 E. Fourth St. at First Avenue on Tuesday morning.

While the residents were able to return, corner tenant Guayoyo, the excellent Venezuelan restaurant, remains closed…

A sign on the door explains…



No word on an reopening date. There weren't any reported injuries in the fire.

Gena's Grill remains closed for renovations

Gena's Grill closed at the end of 2014 at 210 First Ave. for renovations. At the time, a sign on the door of the small restaurant that serves delicious and inexpensive Latin fare near East 13th Street pointed to a Jan. 10 reopening.

EVG reader Greg Masters passed along these photos from last evening… showing that there's a lot of work left to do … and that the old place is taking on a whole new look…

Pipe dreams at 98-100 Avenue A

An EVG reader shares the current view into the hole at 98-100 Avenue A where East Village Farms (and a theater) once stood.

All this is for developer Ben Shaoul's 6-floor residential building with 29 apartments and ground-floor retail here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

One small reward after months and months of agonizing demolition: "I have a lovely view and sunset for a few months at least," the reader said. But. "I'm dreading the day the construction amps up."

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

How you can get Julianne Moore, Ethan Hawke and Greta Gerwig into your East Village apartment

Courtesy of movie-making magic, of course… EVG reader Kelly Virginia Vinson shared this flyer from a building on East Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B… crews are scouting for an East Village apartment for use in late February.

Details are on the flyer for the film directed by Rebecca Miller called "Maggie's Plan."

Report: Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks will move to the East Village

[28 E. Second St.]

Back in November, Jeremiah Moss reported that the popular Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks was not having the lease renewed for its 15-year-old Greenwich Village shop.

Soon after this news broke, DNAinfo got word that a pair of siblings reached out to Slotnick about a retail space available in their childhood home on East Second Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Yesterday, Slotnick confirmed to Jeremiah that she struck a deal with the family, with an anticipated opening date of Feb. 1 in the ground-floor commercial space.

Per Jeremiah: "[T]he story of how she got it might renew your faith in New York City and the life of its book culture."

Read his post here.

Previously

[Updated] Bowery Coffee is closing for good after today

A tipster let us know that Bowery Coffee at 87 E. Houston just west of the Bowery closes for good after business today.

We haven't heard any reasons why. Their Instragram account simply notes, "Come say goodbye to your favorite baristas because we'll miss you too!"

Bowery Coffee opened in October 2011.

Updated 1-15

BoweryBoogie has more today on the situation here... to no surprise, the landlord apparently refused to renew the shop's lease.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Avenue A at East 5th Street by David Spaltro]

Another new residential building for the Bowery (BoweryBoogie)

Your chance to discuss the $335 million plan to create a flood barrier and expanded recreational area along the East River (The Lo-Down)

A look at Real Men, a new weekly program at the Boys Club of New York on East 10th Street (DNAinfo)

John Lurie shares an NYPD anecdote from the 1980s on East Third Street (The Daily News)

The 1980s photography of Hank O'Neal (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Christo and Dora are spending more time together in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

The NYC premiere tomorrow night of Adam Rifkin's "Guiseppe Makes a Movie" (Anthology Film Archives)

Jane Jacobs’ 1958 warning about the loss of street life still resonates (Streetsblog)

Info on the upcoming shows for They Might Be Giants (Brooklyn Vegan)

The $66 million penthouse condo at the Puck Building (Curbed)

Liquiteria opens in the former Gray's Papaya space on Sixth Avenue in the Village (Eater)

... and tonight at the Cherry Tavern, The VolaVida Collective is hosting a one-night only art show by UncuttArt titled "Illegal Tender."


[Photo via 2001 Films]

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Magic Brian
Occupation: Magician, Comedian, Performer
Location: East 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue
Time: 11:30 am on Wednesday, Dec 17

I was born in Long Island and I grew up in Cornwall, about an hour and a half north of the city. My mom’s from Brooklyn and my dad’s from Queens, but they moved out of the city and I moved back in.

I moved to the city in 1996, to an apartment on 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. I didn’t know this neighborhood that well but I was always coming down here for shows or to go to the bar or whatever and then I just fell in love with it. I was just constantly taking the bus down here, so I moved to 7th Street a year and a half later. I then moved to 1st Avenue, above Lanza’s for four years, and 12 or 13 years ago I moved down to where I live now with my wife, to 2nd between C and D.

Any time friends come into town I just walked them around the neighborhood. Benny’s was a favorite place. There was great people watching at Benny’s. Now we’re like, I guess we’ll just set up lawn chairs on the corner and bring our own margaritas. It’s a great neighborhood, it’s just changing. I’ve started taking pictures of all the corners. I’ve got about 60 corners so far.

I started doing magic when I was a kid. My sister works at a daycare center. When she was working there as a teenager, there was construction, so she had a daycare center in our house basically. There was a room in our house with all these kids in it, and she was always trying to come up with stuff to do with them. I had always played around with magic. I had a friend who lived down the street and I said, ‘Hey what if we put on this show for the kids?’

So we started practicing on these same six kids over and over again. So I was like, ‘You know what, we can make money doing this.’ We became Abra and Cadabra. We did a lot of family shows, kids shows, senior citizen centers. I did that for a while and then when I went to college I started doing solo shows and more comedy shows.

It was a bit weird doing it without my partner because I had always had someone else, and then he completely lost interest. He had never really wanted to do it to begin with. So I started doing open mics and things like that. Magic is my tool, but [what I do] is like a comedian or a clown act. A juggler might use juggling clubs or balls, but they’re a comedian that juggles. Magic is my tool.

I started doing that and then I met this circus, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, based in Brooklyn. They were doing shows at the Brooklyn Brewery at the time, Winter Cabaret, and they always toured, so I started touring with them for a few years. I loved traveling around the world with the circus. It was kind of like we were a band. We would play rock venues. We had a trailer that said, Bindelstiff Family Cirkus and people would ask, ‘Are you guys in a band?’ ‘No we’re a circus.’ ‘Is that the name of your band?’ ‘We’re a circus, not a band.’ ‘What kind of music do you play?’ We’re a circus.’

After that I started street performing and then I started traveling the world. I had just done so many shows on the road with them that I thought, ‘Well, what else can I do?’ One of my friends on tour, him and his wife were street performing in Europe, so I just asked them some advice and I put a show together. The first time I did it was in Washington Square Park. That was 2000 or 2001. I worked there just at the very start and then left. It was just waiting around so long to do a show because there were so many acts that it took forever. It was hard. Yeah. Back then it was a lot of different acts and so many strange ones. Now it’s just the break dancers. Then I went up to Central Park and it was a nicer experience.

I’m back up in Central Park. [2014] was the first year where I was going up there regularly again. I started going up with a magician friend of mine. The break dancers took over the spot I usually work by the fountain. They kind of do that everywhere — everywhere in the world. They’re kind of a plague. There’s a code among street performers — you share. You show up at some place, you help somebody out. Someone’s new, you explain to them how it works. Break dancers don’t understand that at all. They just decide to do what they want, when they want. They’ll just do show, show, show, show, show and they don’t want to share. There’s only a few break dancers that I’ve ever worked with that are nice guys. They basically force people out of pitches, the spot you work.

It’s a crazy life to live, being a performer. We’re talking about the neighborhood and you’re used to the neighborhood being the way it is. Being a performer, I’m used to what it is that I do and I forget that it’s strange to people that don’t do this. It’s like, ‘Wait, what do you do?’ I hammer a nail in my nose. I swallow razor blades. I put a wig on and talk in an English accent. This is what it is. It’s normal to me and the people that I work with. My colleagues are the sword swallower and the lizard man. That’s not strange to me.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

About the Manitoba's post

[Image via Facebook]

In this space today we had a post about Manitoba's being in danger of closing... including a letter from co-owners Handsome Dick Manitoba and Zoe Hansen.

The letter was not quite ready for public consumption. So we pulled the post for now and will update when everything is ready. Our apologies. The updated post will include the original comments from today.

Manitoba's is in danger of closing on Avenue B

[Image via Facebook]

Handsome Dick Manitoba and Zoe Hansen, owners of Manitoba's at 99 Avenue B, shared the following letter with us last evening... (slightly edited for length)

Since January 1999, Manitoba’s has existed and thrived as one of the last great New York City Rock and Roll Bars, with a sub-specialty in Punk Rock, a casual bar to enjoy a few drinks, watch a game, play a game, or have a lovely conversation with a member of our wonderful, unpretentious staff ... and listening to Johnny Cash, The Stooges, The Beatles, The Ramones, and The Dictators, for example.



Sadly, this East Village landmark is now in danger of shutting down.

Due to a small wrinkle in the interplay between State and Federal law, Manitoba’s was recently forced to reluctantly settle a case with a private individual for a cumbersome amount that threatens the future of the establishment.

Our backs are against the wall. Our ONLY choice, after being advised by several very competent lawyers, was to settle.

Manitoba’s, its proprietors and patrons, are the very fiber of the East Village — the same East Village that is now being commoditized at an alarming rate and manifesting itself in the form of tenants in expensive apartments levying noise complaints at 8 pm.

This is a battle cry for help. Please don't let Manitoba’s meet the same fate as other business institutions that have recently been forced to close.

Understand this please, this situation is not part of what you would call, "business as usual." It's not a fine, and it's certainly not business mismanagement. We either pay, or shut down. Not one penny goes into the owner's pockets, or is being used to pay bills. All of it goes to settling this claim and keeping the bar open.

There will be auctions, concerts and donations. Every donation — no matter how small — will greatly assist towards keeping the lights on, the beer cold and the jukebox playing.

Thank you,
Handsome Dick Manitoba & Zoe Hansen, owners

We'll have more information on the situation here as it becomes available...

A 'once in a lifetime opportunity' to buy a home inside the former Lodging House on 8th Street

We've seen listings through the years for rentals at the former Lodging House/Children's Aid Society on the corner of East Eighth Street and Avenue B.

Now, though, there's a listing for a two-floor home that hasn't been available for sale in nearly 40 years.

Let's go right to Urban Compass for the breathless details:

The last time anyone was able to make a claim on a space within Vaux and Bradford’s storied Lodging House was 1978. And prior to that, never.

So in the most literal way possible, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a living piece of Manhattan history. As it stands, the lower floor features a wonderfully proportioned South facing living area with wood-burning fireplace, 10 foot ceilings and a large wrought-iron enclosed Juliet balcony overlooking the recently restored St. Brigid’s church and Tompkins Square Park.



Within the Lodging House, Apartment 2–3E is located on the south, east and north sides of the 2nd and 3rd floors, light is guaranteed all day long. Once inside, look closer. It will be easy to find the original spirit of the building by stripping the existing sheetrock away to expose the wonderful Monk bond brickwork, and it’s thrilling to imagine the probability of 130 year old wooden ceiling joists and beams running lengthwise across the ceilings.





To the rear of the home is a large dining area and kitchen with a north facing window overlooking verdant-planted gardens and the stately Christodora House on East 9th Street. The upper floor of the duplex currently has three comfortable bedrooms and is replete with exposed brick, two large wood-burning fireplaces, arched windows and strip oak hardwood floors.

Price: $4 million.

No. 295 Avenue B was completed in 1887... It was known as Newsboys' and Bootblacks' Lodging House as well as Tompkins Square Lodging House for Boys and Industrial School, Children's Aid Society.

No one is taking advantage of the line-free skating at Extell Lake

[EVG reader submitted]

While 500 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B awaits its 7-floor retail-residential building from Extell Development, the standing water remains frozen solid on the lot...

Commenters on our previous Extell Lake post seemed to like the idea of an ice rink here for the winter... an alternative to The Ice at Stuy Town...

Previously on EV Grieve:
New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

Extell Lake