Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Holidays in the East Village (part 2)


[Lower East Side Coffee Shop, 14th Street]

Here's part two of Stacie Joy's holiday photos from around the neighborhood (find part 1 here).


[Double Down Ruck and Buck holiday event, Avenue A]


[At the Essex Street Market Christmas stage]


[6&B Community Garden holiday party]


[Caroling with the Third Street Music School Settlement]


[Otto's Shrunken Head, 14th Street]


[Jennifer Cafe, 4th Street]




[Veniero's, 11th Street]


[Sixth Street Specials]


[Kmart, Astor Place]




[The head witch at Enchantments creating a Yule candle, 9th Street]


[Message from the East 5th Street Tree Committee]




[Park It Parking garage, 11th Street]


[Avenue B]


[Ray's Candy Store, Avenue A]


[Tompkins Square Park]

Previously on EV Grieve:
At the 28th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting

Day 1 of the Cookie Walk

Santa fires up Christmas on 2nd Street

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Tuesday's parting shot



Santa on his Harley on Avenue A late this afternoon... photo by Derek Berg...

Tuesday's parting video



In case you haven't seen this... the "It's A Bad Brains Christmas, Charlie Brown" video has been making the rounds again this season...

Holidays in the East Village (part 1)


[Exit9, Avenue A]

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these holiday scenes from around the neighborhood... (and look for more photos tomorrow — Dec. 25!) Happy holidays from EVG...


[Elsie Flores at the Andrew Glover Youth Center, Avenue B]


[Casey Rubber Stamps, 11th Street]


[ChaShaMa popup Pawn Shop, Avenue A]


[Club Cumming, 6th Street]


[Duane Reade, 2nd and B]


[Rossy at Rossy’s Bakery, 3rd Street]


[Two Boots, Avenue A]


[Nowhere Bar queer arts holiday fair, 14th Street]


[Con Ed lobby, 14th and Irving]


[Lancelotti, Avenue A]


[Amaryllis making poinsettia at the LES Girls Club]


[The Odessa, Avenue A]


[Crimson Kitty and Lacy Stoner at Hetrick-Martin Institute's holiday party, Astor Place]


[Otto's Shrunken Head, 14th Street]


[Hamilton Fish recreation center, East Houston]


[Flower Power, 9th Street]


[Santa, 14th and 1st]

Previously on EV Grieve:
At the 28th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting

New trees for Tompkins Square Park



Workers are out in Tompkins Square Park this morning planting new trees (we heard 17 in total!) ... Goggla shared these photos...



... and a few more photos showing the incoming trees, courtesy of Vinny & O ...





That marshy pit near the center of the Park was also recipient of a tree... should keep Park vehicles for driving over the spot and leaving tire grooves in the mud...



... and another of the new trees ... this photo is via Steven...

Another look at Le Fournil, the French bakery now open in the former Moishe's space on 2nd Avenue



Here's a quick follow-up to yesterday's post about Le Fournil, the French bakery that opened yesterday in the former Moishe's space at 115 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

EVG contributor Steven took these photos, showing the gut-renovated interior... gone is the wood paneling and stuck-in-time homey vibe that Moishe's offered ...




[Photo by Derek Berg]

We're still waiting to find out more about the operators here (and if they will put up their own exterior signage) ...

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Updated 1/6

Per Gothamist, the owner is Jean-Francois Hebert, a third-generation baker from Normandy, France, who's been living in New York for eight years and working at places like Felix in SoHo and Cafe du Soleil on the Upper West Side.

Gothamist has more on the tiles that they unearthed here too.

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A quick take based on reader comments here and on social media — overall people seem to be happy that there's a new bakery that actually sells bread (and not more cookies and other sweets) ... there were a few grumbles about prices. Early taste tests were all positive.





... and an upclose shot of the menu via Eden...



Moishe's bake Shop closed back on March 5 after 40-plus years in business. In December, investor Jay Schwimmer picked up a 21-year lease for the entire three-story building with the option to buy it from Moishe Perl, who has been the owner since the mid-1970s. There's still nothing in public records indicating a sale — just a memorandum of lease.

No one seemed to know exactly what was going to happen with the space (including Mr. Perl, whose narrative changed in various media interviews), though EVG commenter GadgetFreak nailed it with news of a French bakery in a comment on March 25.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

The mystery of Moishe's

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop

The Pure Green-Wattle Cafe combo storefront shutters on 2nd Avenue


[Photos by Steven]

Last Wednesday, we noted that the Pure Green space was for rent at 152 Second Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street, with landlord Icon Realty hanging a large for-rent sign — complete with arrow — above the storefront.

Over the weekend, Pure Green, along with Wattle Cafe and the I.V. Doc, the other two businesses that shared the space, went dark.



Pure Green, which has multiple NYC locations, opened here in March 2017.

According to the Icon website, the space has an asking rent of $18,000 per month.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Last Christmas for Zum Schneider on Avenue C: Biergarten on the move in 2020


[EVG photo from August]

In early 2020, Zum Schneider will be be moving away from its 20-year-old home on the northwest corner of Avenue C and Seventh Street.

As we understand it, the landlord is not renewing the lease of the popular Bavarian bierhaus and German restaurant. (The landlord, listed as 229 East 7th Street HFDC, unsuccessfully tried to evict Zum Schneider in 2006.)

"Yes, it's rather sad after 20 years, but the East Village seems to have the trend that storefronts become empty and stay empty for years," said owner Sylvester Schneider. "Strange development."

Schneider said that they will start looking for a new location in early 2020. Meanwhile, the kitchen closes on Feb. 2, with Feb. 25 serving as the last day for Zum Schneider on Avenue C. They'll be closing out with the annual Karneval party, held Feb. 20-25.

Zum Schneider opened on Avenue C in August 2000, and soon became a destination for World Cup and Euro Cup matches as well as events such as Karneval and Oktoberfest, which they later moved to a tent along the East River.

Schneider also serves as Mösl Franzi, the frontman for the house Oompah band, the JaJaJas.

From a pre-Oktoberfest article from September in The Red Hook Star-Revue:

Schneider is, undisputedly, the heart and soul of the restaurant, whether he’s behind the drums or not. His pervasive energy, enthusiasm and joy have made it a jubilant place since it opened. He’s often seen hopping up onto the benches and bar, leading the entire place in rousing singalongs, or creating spontaneous dance parties.

But he was a musician first. Born in Wessling, a small town outside of Munich, he moved to America to become a drummer. He played in rock bands in Boston and NYC in the ‘90s, before he opened Zum Schneider, which instantly stood out for its uniquely authentic German coziness.

Schneider said that Zum Schneider fans could sign up for their newsletter online for updates about the move next year.

French bakery opens at the former Moishe's Bake Shop


[Photo by Pinch]

Le Fournil, a French bakery, opened around noon today in the former Moishe's Bake Shop at 115 Second Ave. near Seventh Street... Eden shared these photos...



Here's a look at the menu...



We'll update more later...

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Previous post from this morning...


[EVG photo from Saturday]

We haven't heard anything lately about the new bakery venture taking over the Moishe's Bake Shop on Second Avenue near Seventh Street.

In June, workers were spotted delivering new kitchen equipment. Otherwise, pretty quiet.

On Friday, EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted another delivery at the storefront... some butter and items from Paris Gourmet, a specialty food importer, among other items...





Back in May, (current or former) owner Moishe Perl told Derek that several bakers are taking over the shop, where they will serve a variety of baked goods as well as coffee. (He said that they may call the new venture Formerly Moishe's.)

Moishe's closed on March 5 after 40-plus years in business. In December, investor Jay Schwimmer picked up a 21-year lease for the entire three-story building with the option to buy it from Perl, who has been the owner since the mid-1970s. There's still nothing in public records indicating a sale — just a memorandum of lease.

The links below have more background on what has transpired here in the past few months.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

The mystery of Moishe's

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop