More history: "Built in 1832 and home to a prosperous merchant family, the Tredwells, and their Irish servants for almost 100 years, it remains complete with the family’s original furnishings, household objects, clothing, and personal memorabilia."
Friday, September 18, 2020
The Merchant’s House Museum reopen to visitors on Saturday (tomorrow!)
More history: "Built in 1832 and home to a prosperous merchant family, the Tredwells, and their Irish servants for almost 100 years, it remains complete with the family’s original furnishings, household objects, clothing, and personal memorabilia."
Construction watch: 24 1st Ave./101 2nd St.
Nearly seven have months have passed since we checked in on the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's condoplex on First Avenue and Second Street.
There has been a lot of progress — despite the work stoppage during the COVID-19 PAUSE. The 7-story, 23-unit residential building, looks to have reached the top, as this Second Street view shows...
The work includes Saturdays, which has annoyed some neighbors. This past Saturday, a nearby resident wrote in to say: "They are using concrete pumps on diesel engine trucks — the engine never turns off and gets very loud during the pumping process — plus foghorns and car horns to communicate."As for what's to come, the studios are starting at $895,000. The listed amenities include a full-time doorman, fitness center, lounge area, grill & wet bar and an "immaculate indoor/outdoor park."
Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101.
No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block
• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million
• 7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space
• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue
• The 411 on the 101 Condominium
Has Spiegel closed?
Elsewhere in NYC: Pearl Diner reopens for curbside dining
An adjusted menu of basic, diner-style classics, as well as the restaurant’s well-loved breakfast menu, is now available for in-person service as well as delivery via apps like GrubHub and Seamless.The Saturday reopening was a joyous occasion for longtime fans and newcomers alike. "They were all regular customers that showed up," [owner Alex] Pritsos said. “"We also had one or two tourists from Italy. Apparently one of the hotels nearby is now hosting some Italian tourists."
The Pearl opened in 1962, and is one of the last standalone diners in Manhattan. As Nick at Scouting NY said about the Pearl's neon sign: "at night, [it] makes New York City look like New York City."
[Photo from 2010 by James & Karla Murray]
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Thursday's parting shots
Grant Shaffer's NY See
Jules Bistro will not be reopening on St. Mark's Place
Jules Bistro, the casual French spot at 65 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue, will not be reopening coming out of the COVID-19 PAUSE.
The latest obstacle for Punjabi Grocery and Deli
For nearly nine years, the construction zone eliminated parking spaces for cab drivers, who were a sizable share of Punjabi's business, making it nearly impossible for them to stop in for a meal or break. Those who did stop faced getting a ticket. Plus, there has been an overall decline of cab drivers in the Lyft-Uber era.
• Never-ending construction continues to hurt Punjabi Grocery & Deli
• Taxi Relief Stand arrives on Avenue A; Punjabi Grocery & Deli relieved
• Concern again for Punjabi Grocery & Deli on 1st Street
• At long last a taxi relief stand for East Houston and 1st Street outside Punjabi Grocery & Deli
These local streets will now be open during the week for dining
Mayor de Blasio announced yesterday that 40 city streets participating in the Open Restaurants program on weekends can now operate during the week.
• Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street (Organizer: Becaf LLC aka Poco). Hours: Mondays-Fridays noon-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.
• Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue (Organizer: Derossi Global). Hours: Mondays-Fridays 4-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.
• Bleecker Street between Mott Street and the Bowery (Organizer: Von Design Ltd). Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 5-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.
• Bond Street between Lafayette and the Bowery (Organizer: il Buco). Hours: Mondays-Fridays noon-11 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays noon-11 p.m.
The Open Restaurants program is set to end on Oct. 31st, but, as Gothamist noted, Mayor de Blasio has suggested that he wants to make it permanent, calling it "a stunning success."
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Wednesday's parting shot
Milking this police report for page views
Avenue B, 2 p.m., Sept. 16
"Meteorologists expect the graying effect to be ... present until the smoke is eventually pushed off the coast by a cold front on Friday," Gothamist reported.Upper level winds continue to spread smoke from the West Coast #wildfires across much of the northern half of the CONUS, reaching well into the Atlantic Ocean! Skies will continue to be hazy as a result. Meanwhile, #HurricaneSally is impacting portions of the Southeast. pic.twitter.com/LadTkwIs21
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) September 16, 2020