More details on the all-new playground coming to P.S. 19

[Photo by Steven]

Last Wednesday, we noted that renovations were underway on the playground behind P.S. 19 on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street.

This came about via funding by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and (now-former) City Council member Rosie Mendez in conjunction with the Trust for Public Land.

Mary Alice Lee, director, NYC Playgrounds Program for the Trust for Public Land, shared more details about the project.

Working with landscape architects from Studio HIP, the Trust for Public Land engaged the P.S. 19 community — students and parents, teachers and staff — as well as local residents and members of the Sirovich Senior Center on 12th Street in a participatory design process last year.

Per Lee:

The playground will feature a synthetic turf field, a painted track, play equipment, trees, a garden area with an outdoor classroom, a green-roof gazebo, junior basketball, benches, game tables, student art and an outdoor ping-pong table.

It was designed as a green infrastructure playground, and will capture hundreds of thousands of gallons of stormwater each year.

Weather permitting, the work should be complete early this summer. The playground will be open to the community until dusk, after school and on weekends and holidays — just not when in use by P.S. 19 or any of their after-school programs.

And here's a look at the final plan...


[Click on image for more detail]

Here's more about Facebook's takeover of Kmart's 2nd floor at 770 Broadway

[EVG photo from January]

As you may know, Kmart recently vacated the second floor at 770 Broadway, the landmarked building on Astor Place.

The three-level store had recently condensed its wares to the main floor and lower level — reportedly to allow for Facebook to expand its presence (by 78,000 square feet) in the building.

The Commercial Observer has more on the deal, announced during landlord Vornado Realty Trust's fourth quarter earnings call yesterday.

Per the Observer:

The deal grows Facebook’s total footprint at the building to 513,000 square feet, Vornado Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steven Roth said on the earnings call.

The space was made available for Facebook after Vornado bought Kmart out of its lease on the floor, which Roth said had 18 years remaining at rents of $33.50 per square foot. Kmart still has 82,000 square feet at 770 Broadway.

Yes, but do they still have pajamas?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Kmart staying on Astor Place, minus the 2nd floor (for Facebook?)

Valentine's Day Eve

The scene at Sunny's on Second Avenue and Sixth Street... the best place around for flowers... thanks to Goggla for the photo!

And earlier today via Eden B...

Report: high-end condo in the works for 2nd Avenue explosion site

[EVG file photo]

Shaky Cohen's Nexus Building Development Group has filed plans to build a high-end condo at 121 Second Ave., where one of three buildings were destroyed in the deadly gas explosion in March 2015.

Nexus Building Development Group paid $9.15 million for the empty lots at No. 119 and 121 between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

As The Real Deal reported, Nexus reps filed a permit application with the DOB today. According to the permit, the building will feature 2,100 square feet for commercial use with 21,000 square feet for residences.

Here's how the Nexus site describes the project:

...121 Second Avenue is a high-end condominium building designed by Morris Adjami, with seven floors including 21 apartments and a retail space. Residential units are one, two and three bedrooms.

Size: 7 floors, 21 Residential units

Developer: Nexus Building Development Group in partnership with Immobiliare Capital and Premier Equities

Architect: Morris Adjimi Architects

Marketing and Sales: The Tavivian Team from Douglas Elliman

The permits list 119 as the address for the new building while the Nexus site lists the address as 121.

There aren't any renderings for the building just yet.



In a previously recorded transaction, Ezra Wibowo paid $6 million for the property at 123 Second Ave. A source told the Post last March that this was a long-term investment. "He’s not in a rush to build or develop."

Previously.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Exclusive: 2nd Avenue explosion sites have a new owner

Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street

Soil testing underway at the 2nd Avenue explosion site

Tarallucci e Vino closed through March for renovations on 1st Avenue

Papered windows and a sign greeted patrons yesterday at Tarallucci e Vino on First Avenue at 10th Street...



Per the signage at the Italian cafe: "After 16 great years ... it's time to spruce things up a bit."

The original Tarallucci e Vino (there are now five locations total in the city) expects to reopen by the end of March.

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Storefront makeover for the former TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken on Avenue A

The former TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken space is getting a makeover at 151 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street... on Saturday, just the "Take Me Home, I'm Hot!" signage remained...



That was gone by the end of Sunday...


[Photo by Steven]

There aren't any work permits on file with the city for the storefront's renovation ... so that eliminates one way of finding out what might be next here. (Going with either dessert or a smoke-vape/vape-smoke shop.)

The space has sat empty since TakeMeHome officially closed in the summer of 2016. (As you may recall, TakeMeHome would close for weeks at a time.)

TakeMeHome opened in November 2014. The address was previously a San Loco outpost.

Reminders: Hear about the L-train shutdown tonight

[Via the New York Transit Museum Store]

In case you missed this from last week...

Please attend the CB3 Feb. 13 Transportation Committee meeting regarding the coming L Train shutdown in April 2019. MTA and DOT representatives will present the latest plans and answer your questions.

The Transportation Committee will vote on a resolution to send your concerns to the MTA and DOT and ask for plans to address these concerns.

We need your help identify possible impacts and problems that need to be addressed.

Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Grace Church School, 46 Cooper Square (at 6th Street/the Bowery)

Meanwhile! Speaking of the L... the NYPD is looking for this guy...

#WANTED: Male, Hispanic, 25 years old, 5’11” for Public Lewdness/exposing himself to a 45 y/o female inside the “L” train at the 14th St and 3rd Ave station #Manhattan on Jan. 25 at 9:45am. Help us ID this individual, share info ☎️ #800577TIPS pic.twitter.com/hxrysssf5g

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 12, 2018

The DOH temporarily closes the Ainsworth on 3rd Avenue

[Reader-submitted photo]

Several readers have noted that the Ainsworth East Village has been closed since last Wednesday... which coincided with a DOH inspection.

The Ainsworth, part of a growing chainlet of upscale sports bars, opened at the end of December on Third Avenue and 11th Street.

According to public records at the DOH, inspectors issued 86 violation points. The top violations included:

1) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
2) Food contact surface improperly constructed or located. Unacceptable material used.
3) Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.

Per one reader: "They're trying to hide a yellow closure sticker by conveniently hanging a white sign over the sticker that the DOH placed on their door." (As seen in top photo.)

The Village Pourhouse closed at this location last April after 11 years in business.

Updated 2/15
The Ainsworth is back open.

True romance: Valentine's Day at the movies

💔 ALL 💔 ON 💔 35MM! 💔 VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE 2018 hits our screen February 14 - 18⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Maurice Pialat⠀ WE WON’T GROW OLD TOGETHER⠀ ⠀ Albert Brooks⠀ MODERN ROMANCE⠀ ⠀ Elaine May⠀ A NEW LEAF⠀ ⠀ Elaine May⠀ HEARTBREAK KID⠀ ⠀ Andrzej Zulawski⠀ POSSESSION

A post shared by Anthology Film Archives (@anthologyfilmarchives) on Feb 8, 2018 at 3:33pm PST

On Wednesday (Valentine's Day), the Anthology Film Archives once again presents their slate of "radically anti-romantic films."

Here's more about Valentine's Day Massacre 2018 via the Anthology's website:

The series is anchored by two films that are virtually identical in many ways, save for their wildly different tones: Maurice Pialat’s grueling, autobiographical study of a dysfunctional off-and-on relationship, WE WON’T GROW OLD TOGETHER, and Albert Brooks’s hilarious yet no less painful MODERN ROMANCE. This Jekyll and Hyde pairing is supplemented by Andrzej Zulawski’s POSSESSION, a batshit crazy depiction of an imploding marriage that’s perhaps the ultimate dysfunctional relationship film, and two masterpieces by the great Elaine May: A NEW LEAF, a jet-black comedy that’s outrageously cynical yet in its way genuinely heartwarming, and THE HEARTBREAK KID, which in the spirit of Valentine’s Day Massacre is at once a hilariously funny and bitterly corrosive depiction of male/female relations.

The series plays through Sunday. Find the more about each film here. The theater is on Second Street at Second Avenue.

Also on Wednesday ... the Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street is showing "From Here to Eternity" at 7 p.m. ... the Metrograph on Ludlow Street has an array of films including Maurice Chevalier's 1932 musical "Love Me Tonight" and the 1998 trashy guilty pleasure "Wild Things" with Denise Richards, Neve Campbell and Matt Dillon. Find the full slate here. And on 13th Street, the Quad is premiering François Ozon’s "Double Lover" on Wednesday... described as "a kaleidoscope of kinky eroticism and cinematic double takes that raises the stakes of the classic erotic thriller."

So long to Ai Weiwei's 'Good Fence' at Cooper Union

Today is removing day at Cooper Union for the Ai Weiwei installation ... part of a citywide project in collaboration with the Public Art Fund titled "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors." (Thanks to EVG reader Riian Kant-McCormick for this photo!)

The installation of the installations started in early October ... ahead of the official debut on Oct. 12. Yesterday marked the last day for the "Fences" project. Around here, installations were also on view at 48 E. Seventh St., 189 Chrystie St., 248 Bowery and the Essex Street Market.

According to The New York Times, "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors" is "a reflection on the growing hostility toward immigrants and the rise of nationalism throughout the world."

The installation was commissioned by the Public Art Fund in celebration of its 40th anniversary.