Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Live in tranquil cottages overlooking … 3rd Avenue (but still)



You've likely seen what looks like cottages atop the building that houses Kiehl's on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and 13th Street… now the penthouse home up there is for sale.

Here is the listing via Corcoran:

Own an iconic penthouse, featured in a number of publications for its unique rooftop cottages perched atop this historic boutique pre-war condominium. Penthouse 4CD is a breathtaking light-filled 1,972sf three bedroom, three bath duplex with four wood-burning fireplaces and two private garden terraces totaling 795sf.

This loft-like home features soaring 11’8” ceilings, exquisitely restored exposed brick, pristine hardwood oak floors, and carefully crafted carpentry throughout. Spanning nearly forty feet, with bright South and West exposures, the corner living and dining room are separated by a magnificent brick archway and bookended by two gracious wood-burning fireplaces.

An open kitchen features stainless steel appliances including Miele dishwasher and Wolf range, along with a dramatic Thermador vented range hood. Hand-painted Victorian-era aluminum casted balusters line the staircase leading up to the stunning master bedroom suite.

Enter this second level through the spectacular solarium, sun-flooded during the days and great for stargazing at night through its numerous skylights. This well-designed suite is complete with a spa-like master bath featuring a deep-soaking tub and separate steam shower, a windowed study/dressing area, and corner fireplace. The two spacious terraces flank the second level, the larger featuring an outdoor wood-burning fireplace, retractable awning, and four exposures with views of the Empire State Building. There is also a new irrigation system in place.

Price: $4.4 million.

And here are a few more photos via Corcoran…









'The great sandwich experiment' has ended at Lord Hamm's



An EVG tipster told us yesterday that Lord Hamm's has been rather closed looking the last few days at 226 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. The phone number is also no longer is service.

We reached out to the Lord Hamm's folks via Twitter…



The small space just opened on April 5. New York magazine called proprietor Corey Cova an "an undersung sandwich genius."

The reader who told us about the possible closure was a Lord Hamm's fan, noting it was a "really great addition to the neighborhood."

Where the 'Girls' are today



Cast and crew of the HBO television series "Girls" will be filming around parts of the neighborhood today, if this is of interest… the above notice is on East 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue… there are also notices posted on Second Avenue and parts of East 13th Street and East 12th Street… the show will be starting its fifth season.

Thanks to @cassidyfein for the photo!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Fire ants in the hole?



Crews are in Tompkins Square Park this morning whacking back/inspecting the elm tree near Temperance Fountain... the one that had a large branch come crashing down when the Park was closed late Saturday or early Sunday ...

EVG correspondent Derek Berg says that there is talk of fire ants (!) being the culprit here...



Workers will continue to give the tree a thorough exam.

Tompkins Square Bagels makes it official on 2nd Avenue



Christopher Pugliese, the owner of Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A, has confirmed that he signed a lease for a second East Village location.

As we first reported on April 27, Pugliese had a deal in place to take over the former Open Pantry space at 184 Second Ave. between East 11th Street and East 12th Street. He signed the lease on Friday. We hope to have a few more details later this week.

Open Pantry, the 45-year-old coffee shop/grocery, closed for good at the end of January. The proprietors of Open Pantry also own the building.

Tompkins Square Bagels opened on Avenue A near East 10th Street in December 2011.

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

Rumor: Tompkins Square Bagels possibly opening a 2nd East Village location on 2nd Avenue

A 2nd Tompkins Square Bagels confirmed for former Open Pantry space on 2nd Avenue

Rent hike will force Bikes, By George! to close on East 4th Street



Several EVG Facebook friends have passed along the news that Bikes, By George! is closing at the end of the month. Apparently there's a rent increase, and proprietor George Philbert can't afford the new lease. Friends say that George is uncertain if he will be able to reopen in a different location.

After working in several bike shops when he arrived in NYC in 1970, George finally opened his own place in 1980 on East 12th Street. A rent hike saw him move to his current location at 193 E. Fourth St. just east of Avenue A in 2008. You can read more about George in this article from The Villager.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Dominic Philbert

Taxi Parts Inc. now open on 1st Avenue



Didn't really see this one coming … a small auto parts shop primarily (presumably?) serving cab drivers just opened at 45 First Ave. (Suite 1C, per the awning) between East Second Street and East Third Street…



This shop moved here from Tenth Avenue and 35th Street after 25 years on the ground floor of a tenement building that is being demolished to make way for more Hudson Yards.

The First Avenue space was previously home to the barber shop that also bought gold.

Bago now serving food to-go on 1st Avenue



A new to-go restaurant called Bago (quietly) opened Saturday in the former Hibachi Dumpling Express space, which (quietly) closed on First Avenue between East 13th Street and East 14th Street.

A quick glance at the menu inside (they weren't yet open for the day — their hours are 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) revealed a handful of Thai/Chinese Filipino offerings, such as a ginger broth with either chicken, pork or tofu ($6.95), pan-sauteed noodles with either chorizo, chicken or tofu ($6.95) and grilled soy-glazed thin pork chops or chicken ($7.95).

Hibachi Dumpling Express opened last August… taking over from the 2 Bros. Pizza outpost.

Updated 6-25

A reader let us now the proprietor here is the daughter of the owner of Elvie's Turo-Turo, which closed back in 2009 across First Avenue.

Temporary closures: Unidentified Flying Chickens on 3rd Ave.; Spice on 1st Avenue


[Photo from June 7]

Over at 60 Third Ave. near East 11th Street, Unidentified Flying Chickens has been closed the past 10 days or so… the sign points to a ceiling repair, which appears to be happening inside…



The East Village outpost of the Jackson Heights-based Korean fried chicken restaurant opened last July. However, they won't be in this space too much longer: The address will be home soon to another location of Blockheads, the San Francisco-style Mexican restaurant from the folks who launched Benny's Burritos.

---

Meanwhile, Spice, which only recently opened at 71 First Ave. between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street, is out of commission for the moment… the sign says Spice is upgrading its gas lines…


[Photo from June 7]

The Spice on Second Avenue and East Sixth Street is now closed… so if you want your Spice fix you'll have to get it at the East 13th Street and University Place location for now.

No. 71 here was previously home to Pukk, the 11-year-old vegetarian/vegan Thai place that closed in March.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

A letter from the editor

Hello, my name is John Elsasser and I have been running this website for the past eight years or so.

There are a few people involved with EV Grieve — some of them are anonymous, some of them are not. Regardless, I oversee everything.

I've been thinking about using my name on the site for several years. However, I resisted. It's not a personal website, and the blog isn't about me or what I had for dinner last night or what I did this past weekend. It's a news site about the neighborhood, for the neighborhood. Everyone has a voice and the opportunity to share a story, photo or tip, discuss a liquor license application or the latest Citi Bike seats. At least that's how I see it.

But I've dragged my feet with the announcement. I was waiting for a good moment. A blog anniversary maybe? Or when I retired the site. And the years passed. However, it seems easier now to make this disclosure, helped in part that a news site has designs on publishing a "Who is EVG?" article in the days/weeks ahead. After much prodding from the reporter, I eventually agreed to answer some questions via email for the story, but only once I felt convinced that the outlet wasn't trying to out me. I was ultimately wrong.

In the EVG story, you may learn more about me, such as that I grew up in Ohio, and served as the editor of my high school and college newspapers. I also spent a few years working as a reporter after graduation. Today I edit publications for a nonprofit association.

I started this blog in December 2007 after reading in Page Six that Mona’s and Sophie’s, two bars that I spent some time in, were for sale. For some reason, I got the idea to maybe document the end of days at the bars via a blog.

Anyway, before much more happened, with both the blog and the bars, we learned in early 2008 that Mona’s and Sophie’s would remain open.

And that was that. I wrote in a post that the bars were safe, and the site was going away. However, for some reason, Jeremiah Moss of Vanishing New York found the blog. He encouraged me to continue, to focus on other closings and activities in the neighborhood. So I did, changing the name of the site to EV Grieve.

I've always loved this neighborhood, for better or worse, and I probably always will. That sounds corny, but it's true. That drives me more than anything.

I'm not sure really what's next for the site. We'll see how this goes. [Updated: I'm not planning on shutting down the site right this moment ... I'll keep posting for the time being...]

I apologize to my friends, acquaintances and neighbors as well as various bartenders who were unaware that I was behind the site, especially when you asked me "Did you see this at EVG...?" I wanted to say, "Funny you should mention that…" but it always seemed so awkward. (Having had to do this several times, it was.)

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to visit the site, to leave a comment, pass along a tip. And thank you to all the people who have been contributing on a regular basis through the years (Derek Berg, Dave on 7th, Michael Sean Edwards, Stacie Joy, James Maher and Bobby Williams, among many others).

See you around, though hopefully not while I'm carrying my FroYo in a hoof.

Week in Grieview


[Avenue A sinkhole photo via Lola Sáenz]

Birthday wishes for Nicholas Figueroa on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

East Village Cheese makes move to Seventh Street official (Sunday)

Excel Art and Framing Store relocating nearby on Third Avenue (Monday)

Rallying for stronger rent regulations in NYC (Wednesday)

Rumors and sales at New York Central Art Supply (Tuesday)

Out and About with Sharon Jane Smith (Wednesday)

Dog walker reportedly traded Sugar for PCP (Sunday)

Work underway on the new residential conversion on East Seventh Street (Friday)

Babu Ji now open on Avenue B (Tuesday)

Residents launch petition to oppose method of operation for Albert Trummer's new cocktail bar on Avenue C (Thursday)

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street (Friday)

Former Mary Help of Christians lot now ready for 82 market-rate condos (Monday)

A mini-pitch for East 12th Street (Tuesday)

Harry & Ida’s Meat and Supply Company now open on Avenue A (Wednesday)

16 affordable apartments now available at the incoming 331 E. Houston St. (Tuesday)

Action in the pits and new renderings along East 14th Street (Monday)

A piano for Astor Place (Monday)

Have you tried the Gnocco-Cafe Pick Me Up combo? (Tuesday)

Cleaning up 444 E. 13th St. (Wednesday)

Construction watch: 321 E. Third St. (Thursday)

Tink's has closed on East Seventh Street (Monday)

Former Luca Bar space for rent on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

At 37 Avenue B, residents want their Credit Union retail tenant to pay more rent (Wednesday)

Fasta closes on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Check out the new butt-friendly Citi Bike seats (Monday)

Drilling at the former Second Avenue BP station (Friday)

Looking good on East 14th Street



Spotted outside the Immaculate Conception Church flea market on East 14th Street at First Avenue this morning… if you are interested in these items, then please see the hot dog vendor inside.

Large tree branch down in Tompkins Square Park



Thanks to EVG reader Colleen Egan for sharing these photos this morning … of a large branch that, at least from the top photo, looks as if it came down nearly on top of Temperance Fountain…



The tree (is this an elm?) branch looked rotted out on the inside.

Updated 10:11 a.m.

Here are more photos via EVG reader bonatron9000…







… and via EVG reader Bayou…



Saturday, June 13, 2015

I want to believe



EVG regular Spike noticed what could be a UFO... or maybe swamp gas ... over the neighborhood this evening.

Perhaps there are other theories...

The 2nd Avenue Festival is today (on 2nd Avenue)



Today's street festival is brought to you by the Cooper Square Committee.

Technically, yes, it is a Street Fair! But there are some local businesses involved, aside from the usual stuff (tube socks, fried calamari in a hoof, etc.).

As for local businesses, B&H Dairy owners Fawzy and Ola Abdelwahed will be selling T-shirts, as they did during the Second Avenue Street Fair back on May 9...


[Photo from May 9 by Derek Berg]

B&H has yet to reopen after the deadly gas explosion on March 26.

The festival is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today… from East 14th Street to East Sixth Street.

The first Zeppoles-Funnel Cake-Leomonade-Fruit Punch truck was just setting up when we were touring the Festival grounds walked by this morning …



… here are two shots of vendors setting up via Derek Berg…





Updated 1:57 p.m.


[Photo by Vinny & O]


Closing time at the Odessa for the night



Earlier this morning at the Odessa, 119 Avenue A. Photo by Michael Sean Edwards

Friday, June 12, 2015

Noted

Demon drop



"Boys," the latest record from Crocodiles, came out on May 12. Slightly underwhelmed by the effort to date, though this track, "Crybaby Demon," grew on us.

The wait for the Fuku fried chicken sandwich


[The line on East 10th Street around noon today]

EVG reader Chad Solomon stopped by the hyped-up Fuku, the new quick-serve fried chicken sandwich place from Momofuku's David Chang that opened Wednesday at 163 First Ave. just north of East 10th Street.

Here's what he had to say:

"Line was around the corner — took us about 35 minutes to get inside to order but then another 45 to wait for the food, so an hour and 20 minutes total. But my God was it worth it — crispy and flavorful on the outside, nice and juicy inside."





Fuku is currently only open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

EV Grieve Etc.: A change in leadership at Cooper Union; a gallery show for Christo & Dora


[Photo outside Gem Spa via Derek Berg]

Cooper Union president resigns amid tuition controversy (DNAInfo)

Drilling underway at former Streit’s Matzo Factory on Rivington (BoweryBoogie)

Leather boutique The Cast closes for now on Orchard Street (The Lo-Down)

Marcha Cocina opens on Avenue C (Bedford + Bowery)

A visit to Bar 169 on East Broadway (Gothamist)

Screening tonight: "Rumble Fish," "Never Too Young to Rock" and Stephanie Gray's Super 8MMs (Anthology Film Archives)

Swans fans take note (Flaming Pablum)

Inside "The Wolfpack" (ABC News)

A visit to the Merchant's House on East Fourth Street (The Villager)

Will the 90-year-old Palm Restaurant return? (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

"New York City turns out to be just a massive cesspool of hazardous waste" (Curbed)

Record executive on why he didn't sign the Clash (Dangerous Minds)

... and in the past few years, you've likely seen some of Goggla's photos of red-tailed hawk parents Christo and Dora (and their numerous offspring) ... now there's an exhibit of her work titled "Christo and Dora: Recent Photographs by Laura Goggin." There's a reception tomorrow from 4-7 p.m. at the Crony Gallery, 437 E. 12th St. #26, between First Avenue and Avenue A (it is a fifth-floor walkup). Find more info here.


[Photo by Goggla]

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street



Last October, a tipster who lives on East 13th Street and University Place said that the whole corner would be demolished — from University Place Gourmet on the corner to Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry a storefront away on the side street. At the time, we didn't get any other confirmation that anything was imminent.

Until now.



The signs went up last week noting that Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry is closing for good after today… (Jeremiah Moss first noted this last week.)





And yesterday, several EVG readers told us that University Place Gourmet has closed after 30 years of the current ownership (47 years in business total).



The owners left a heartfelt goodbye…



Back to the tipster in the fall.

Apparently the buildings that house University Place Gourmet, the doggy day care and Benny Louie Laundry have all been sold to one person and will be coming down. I was in Benny Louie this morning and was told the new owner came by and advised that they have about 6 months before they will need to get out.

To date though, nothing has shown up yet in public records to note a sale… or impending demolition.

There's a lot of new luxury development along this corridor. Bowlmor Lanes, University Place Gourmet's former neighbor, closed last July … and is being replaced by a 23-story residential building. There are other condos projects in the works along this corridor, so might as have one more.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

[Updated] Work underway on the new residential conversion on East 7th Street

[October 2011]

It was all the way back in October 2011 when we first heard about Villa Capri, a new residential building coming to 222 E. Seventh St. just west of Avenue C.

The sign eventually disappeared, as did any chatter about the project. However, in December 2013, the city signed off on the application for the new building. Plans show that the current single-family residence will nearly double in size… with an additional two floors on the way. The plans show eight dwelling units in total.

And the point of all this is to say work has started at No. 222, which looks rather hallowed out now…



No word just yet if the development is still going by Villa Capri, which sounds like a resort in St. Lucia or something.

As we pointed out previously, the address was the onetime studio of famed sculpturist Louise Nevelson.

Updated 10:10 a.m.

Oh! Somehow we missed the rendering on the plywood... here's what's to come... (thanks Dave on 7th!)



Previously on EV Grieve:
Villa Capri condos coming to Seventh Street

Drilling at the former 2nd Avenue BP station



We've been waiting for something construction-y to happen at the former BP station on Second Avenue at East First Street. Workers removed the iconic pumps and underground tanks in December.

The Deal Deal reported back in the fall that a new development with 50,000 square feet of condominiums and 7,000 square feet of retail is on the way. However, permits for a new building are not on file yet with the Department of Buildings. (The most recent permit is for the construction fence! Woo!)

But there is a some sort of drilling rig contraception (or is this a quinzhee?) … drilling and soil testing at the site now.

Also, is anyone going to see that Morrissey-Blondie show June 27 at the Garden?



Previously on EV Grieve:
RUMOR: Gas station going, boutique hotel coming on Second Avenue? (31 comments)

BP station on 2nd Avenue closes this month

The 2nd Avenue BP station has closed

Report: 50,000 square feet of condos coming to the former 2nd Avenue BP station

Permits filed to demolish former 2nd Avenue BP station