The Ainsworth East Village debuts on 3rd Avenue

[Photo from Saturday]

As previously reported here, the Ainsworth, the growing chain of upscale sports bars, is opening a location on Third Avenue and 11th Street.

The Ainsworth East Village (other new locations are coming to Nashville, Kansas City and Wall Street), is expected to open to the public this week. (They are apparently hosting a few private events.)

Jennifer Gould Keil has a preview at the Post yesterday:

The East Village location is 4,500 square feet and comes with 16 dining seats, 30 high top seats, and 25 seats in the bar area. It will feature cocktails like the Crooked Knife, a jalepeño-infused DeLeón tequila with lemon and agave; and the Ains Martini with Ketel One citroen, Aperol and citrus.

The Village Pourhouse closed here back in April after 11 years. The bar was expected to be E.Vil for a few Instagram moments.

Previously on EV Grieve:
An outpost of the Ainsworth vying for former Pourhouse space; E.Vil is not coming

Presenting Mercury East Presents, which brings together several local music venues

In case you didn't see this news yesterday... press release via the EVG inbox...

Michael Swier, co-owner of Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge and an original founder of the Bowery Presents, and Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company, have joined forces to create a new promotions and booking venture called “Mercury East Presents.”

Focused on the coveted live music market in New York City, the alliance creates a nexus of current and future independently-owned and operated venues within the five boroughs while capitalizing on shared expertise and industry strength to serve artists and fans alike. Mercury East unites iconic venues throughout the city under one umbrella, establishing a network of clubs and theaters, including Swier’s Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom, Live Nation’s Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theatre, Warsaw and Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk.

The group will continue to expand this portfolio and will assist in growing artists by bringing acts to NYC’s most venerable open rooms, including Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, The Beacon Theater and Radio City Music Hall. Mercury East will also collaborate with Founders Entertainment, who have introduced hundreds of new artists to the New York market through appearances at their Governors Ball, Meadows Music & Arts Festival and festival after parties.

Both parties have a proven track record in the New York live entertainment scene. Live Nation remains the leader in live entertainment for the region, producing 2,000 events for more than 5.5 million fans in the NYC area in 2016. And Swier’s Bowery Ballroom has hosted thousands of events since its opening in 1998, and is nationally recognized as one of the premier live music venues in the countrry thanks to its talent bookings and intimate performance atmosphere. Well known to music lovers, The Mercury Lounge continues to offer a boutique vibe, welcoming crowds of 250 since its opening in 1994.

Check out the Mercury East website here.

Back in August, the AEG-owned Bowery Presents parted ways with the Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, as Variety reported.

Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, along with The Bowery Presents, will be booking shows at Webster Hall on 11th Street once renovations are complete.

Citi Bike of the day

A reader shared this photo from 11th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... previously.

Reader report: Beware the Amazon Fire TV Stick

An EVG reader, who works from home, shared this (including the above photo) about the Fire TV Stick...

My web connection really slowed down. Once I got on my Verizon wireless modem setting online with one of their tech people, it turned out that along with my devices listed as connected there was also an Amazon device connected. I do not have an Amazon wireless device. Turns out it is an Amazon Firestick, the device you connect to a TV to get Amazon streaming video.

Verizon said that there are apps for phones now that can be used to figure out your wireless passwords easily. It is commonly done with Amazon Firesticks since they take a lot of bandwidth. Once I changed my password and wireless network name the device was no longer listed as connected. The tech said she changed her wireless name and password every other month due to this.

The reader shared this because it "may save a lot of people aggravation."

East Village Cheese remains closed

Another weekend went by without the East Village Cheese Shop being open for business at 80 Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The storefront has been shuttered since Dec. 7.

Several readers have now reported (via the building's super) that the power is off inside the shop. As one reader noted, "It's going to get gross in there soon." (If not already.)

This temporary (for now) closure has been a popular topic in EVG reader emails. Several people have been looking for cheese alternatives. One popular choice is Barnyard Cheese on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street...


[Image via Yelp]

Other East Village possibilities via readers include the Westside Market on Third Avenue at 12th Street ...





... and Union Market on Houston at Avenue A...



Previously

Partial vacate order and violations for sidewalk-collapse building on 4th Street

A few more details have emerged regarding the partial sidewalk collapse outside 125 E. Fourth St. Saturday morning.



According to the Daily News, a worker at the nail salon was preparing to open the shop around 10:40 a.m. here between First Avenue and Second Avenue when a 5x4 section of the sidewalk caved in, sending the worker plunging into the building's basement.

EMTs took the salon employee to Bellevue. Her injuries were not life-threatening, per the News.

The city issued a partial vacate order at the address, which temporarily closes the salon and the adjacent business, Manny's Barber Shop.

Per the News: The Department of Buildings issued "aggravated violations" to the property owner for failing '"to maintain the building in a safe manner." Public records show a court date of Feb. 1.

This is a co-op building. Public records list the owner as: 125 East 4th Street Owner Corp.

Viking Waffles signage arrives on Avenue C

Some signage arrived Friday at 137 Avenue C near Ninth Street, which is home to Viking Waffles...



The space serves as both a wholesale manufacturing business and (eventually) a retail outlet for the popular protein-rich waffles that are sold online and at several health-food stores and gyms, including Barry's Bootcamp. (Benedicte Engen, a Crossfit trainer, is the founder of Viking Waffles.)



In any event, it doesn't appear that the Avenue C space is ready for retail just yet.

No. 137 went under extensive renovations (it's basically a new building) in recent years. The building's ground-floor was previously home to drunk-brunch hotspot Sunburnt Cow until April 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Sunburnt Cow space on Avenue C is the new home of Viking Waffles

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


[Photo from April 2014]

Pinky's Space bringing quick-serve food options to 1st Street

The Pinky's Space neon is up at 70 E. First St. just west of First Avenue... this will be the first location for Pinky's, which has ambitious plans to open multiple outlets near commuter hubs (here being across the street from the F stop).

Here are details from a crowdfunding campaign for the business:

Pinky's will be a GRAB & GO food chain offering a 7 item menu with multiple locations located in small venues (approximately 150 sq/ft) next to high traffic NYC subway stations. We will offer healthy Southern American & French style cuisine served hot and packaged fresh in vibrant packaging creatively designed for easy commute and convenient dining.

The Pinky's team is Wesley Wobles, a personal chef and cookbook author, and Mimi Blitz, who spent nearly two decades working for her mother's catering company and bakery in New Orleans.

Pinky's has a website here. No word on an opening date.

The space previously (and briefly) served as a gym for Marcus Antebi, the Juice Press founder-CEO who opened his first store next door in April 2010.

Some Steiner East Village retail speculation

Some locals have been curious about what retail tenants might be coming to Steiner East Village on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street... workers recently put up paper on the windows, fueling speculation that something imminent is in the works...



However, a source tells us that Steiner reps are still in the preliminary stages in considering retail leases in the nearly 11,000 feet of retail space at the condoplex.

You can likely count out a Trader Joe's and Target, which are opening on 14th Street and Avenue A. (Duane Reade is always a popular jokey choice, though they are currently downsizing locations.)

The idyllic rendering at the Steiner East Village website shows what looks like a restaurant/wine bar in the corner space on 11th Street along with some smaller shops...



Ripco Real Estate still has a listing for the address that dates to 2014.

Season's greetings from the FDNY on 2nd Street

EVG reader Bill Buchen shares these photos of Santa arriving at Engine 28/Ladder 11 on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C this afternoon ...