Work permits point to a "renovation at the fourth floor."
The Urban Umbrella, made of recycled steel and translucent plastic panel, made its first NYC appearance in the fall of 2017.
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Cooper Union's Urban Umbrella
Monday, April 12, 2021
Reader report: It's 'rats galore' at this long-empty 1st Avenue lot
An EVG reader shared an email with the subject line: "New tenants for 89 1st Ave?"
A bit of a misleading title, but it's rats, rats and rats galore. This "fence" (especially in quotes compared to the former grand one) is an invitation for garbage dumping, and the rat situation in the courtyards behind the building is dire.
This is just the sidewalk; the lot is a mess. Do readers have suggestions or tips for how to get the lot better secured from dumping and trespassing? Or who to call to come to issue a fine? Or how to get this turned into a community garden for the time being? It's only been what, 40-plus years?!
According to the DOB, the proposed building is six floors with eight residential units and ground-floor retail. In total, the structure is 8,183 square feet. The project is still awaiting approval.
This is the second time in recent years that plans have been filed for a new building for the address. In 2017, the city never approved plans for a similar-sized structure — eight units, six floors.
As previously reported, Florence Toledano was the owner of this lot. In 2013, public records show that the deed for the property was transferred from the Florence Toledano Living Trust to 89 First Avenue LLC. The DOB permit lists Daniel Toledano as the manager of the property. (We do not know the relationship between Daniel Toledano and Florence Toledano. One reader said Daniel is a nephew of Florence.)
Daniel Toledano is still listed as the property owner and developer of the project. (Toledano is also listed as the owner of the lot that housed the 2Bn2C sculpture garden at 231 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. More on that space in another post.)
In December 2017, workers dismantled the sculpture fence that had lined the First Avenue lot for years (since the late 1980s, per one estimate). The fence was created at the former Gas Station (aka Art Gallery Space 2B) on Avenue B and Second Street by Claire Kalemkeris and Johnny Swing in collaboration with Linus Coraggio.
[EVG photo from 2017]
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?
• Drilling and soil testing commence at the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.
• Workers remove the sculpture fence and prep lot at 89 1st Ave.
A good sign at Little Poland
In an Instagram post on March 10, the diner between 12th Street and 13th Street said that they were preparing to open its doors once again.... for the first time since the PAUSE of March 2020.
And in another positive sign, Little Poland is now hiring for several positions... 
It will be nice to have them back ... Little Poland first opened in 1985.
Thanks to Steven for the photos...
La Cabra opening a Scandinavian coffee roastery and sourdough bakery on 2nd Avenue
We are revisiting this city sooner than we expected. Back in February, we signed a contract for a beautiful location in East Village and our first location will be an open and beautiful sourdough bakery combined with a coffee bar.
We recently started the renovations and together with our local partner we look forward to welcoming you this summer with bright coffees, sourdough bread and handmade pastries.
The previous tenant here, Pure Green, which sold cold-pressed juices, smoothies and açaí bowls, closed in early 2020. They had several roommates — Wattle Cafe, Greecologies, PlantMade and the I.V. Doc — dating back to their opening in March 2017.
Thanks to Steven for the photo and tip!
Openings: Burrata Pizza on Avenue A, Sal's Pizza II on 14th Street
Burrata Pizza has debuted at 221 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street.
As previously reported, this pizzeria is taking the place of Muzzarella Pizza (1991-2020).
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. You can find a menu, which includes salads and paninis, at GrubHub.
... and New York Sal's Pizza II recently opened at 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. The deal signage on the sidewalk offers two slices and a soda for $6.
The hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Anyone try either pizzeria? EVG regular Edmund John Dunn liked his slice from Burrata.
Gong Cha debuts on St. Mark's Place
The new Gong Cha outpost has officially opened at 27 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
This is the ninth Manhattan outpost for Gong Cha, which describes itself as "one of the most recognized bubble tea brands around the world" ... which got its start in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
This block of St. Mark's has seen a variety of bubble tea come and go through the recent years... some still in business (Kung Fu Tea right across the street).... and some not (Mi Tea). And there's more on the way for the northwest corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.
This storefront had been vacant since Lab -320° closed in late 2016 after six months of selling ice cream. The previous longtime tenant here, The Sock Man, closed in January 2016 after a reported rent hike via (now former) landlord Raphael Toledano.
Sock Man owner Marty Rosen later opened a new location at 99 1/2 St. Mark's Place ... where he remains today.
Added:
There was previously a Gong Cha location on 14th Street.
Photo by Steven
Sunday, April 11, 2021
I say love, it is a flower
Week in Grieview
• City tries again with release of a Value Engineering Study for East River Park (Thursday)
• Barnyard Cheese Shop returns; Brix Wines moves a storefront away (Monday)
• Packing up the last of The Pyramid Club (Thursday)
• At the first East Village Flea of 2021 (Tuesday)
A look at Full Tank Moto Cafe, now open on Monroe Street (Tuesday)
• Easter in Tompkins Square Park (Monday)
• Reopenings: Indochine, Kindred and Van Da (Wednesday)
• This week's Gallery Watch looks at "There's the Air" by Clare Grill at Derek Eller Gallery (Friday)
• Halftime at NY See (Thursday)
• Fresco will not be reopening at 138 2nd Ave. (Tuesday)
• "Diamonds, Razors & Champagne" debuts at 3rd & B’Zaar (Friday)
• Vinny Vincenz Pizza has closed (Monday)
• This photogenic East Village wisteria now has its own jigsaw puzzle (Tuesday)
• Doc Holliday's turns 27 while closed during the pandemic; "We will be back" (Wednesday)
• The Hayaty Hookah Bar space is for rent on Avenue A (Monday)
• Rendering watch: 650 E. 6th St. (Wednesday)
• Report of a balcony fire on 7th Street (Sunday)
• 45-47 2nd Ave. has a new owner (Thursday)
• Back to the 1980s (again) for "Russian Doll" (Friday)
• Partial reveal at the 101 Condominium (Monday)
... and William Klayer spotted DJ Mike Márquez at 7 a.m. for an early Twitch live stream in East River Park by the fogged-in Williamsburg Bridge...
Vinnie is missing [UPDATED: Vinnie is home safe]
Per the flyer:
Vinnie, very beloved, very friendly, and very dumb, not sure he knows his name but responds to treat-shaking. Gray and white striped. Wearing collar/nametag, microchipped. Probably got over wall to East 2nd Street cemetery or East 3rd Street backyards. Reward!!! 917-446-8822. Missing since late Saturday night, 4/10/21.
Updated noon:
Vinnie is safe and sound now and hanging out in the living room...
Sunday's opening shot
Thanks to Jeanne Krier for this photo, which includes the Con Ed Building on 14th Street to the left...
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Saturday's parting shot
A presentation of work by Ed Shostak/Rose Royale
Shostak, a longtime East Village resident, died on April 8, 2020, from complications due to COVID-19. He was 78.
Per the reader: "He was an artist stemming from the Warhol Factory. We didn't know to what extent until after he died and his loft on Houston and Avenue A was chock-full of work and over 3,000 photos chronicling EV nightlife."
The exhibit, at the David Richard Gallery, 211 E. 121st St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, is only up through Friday. However, this is the first of several planned shows here to feature Shostak's work.
Here's more via the gallery's site:
It is unusual to uncover an artist of his pedigree for which so little is publicly known after establishing himself amidst the visual arts most notable institutions. Shostak cloistered himself in his downtown loft relentlessly working and opting for a less mainstream practice. This exhibition is the first look at many of his late works.For those who are interested in reconsidering the parallel arcs of art history, examining and expanding the boundaries of the established canon of Post War art, Shostak's work will be a revelation. His work addressed so many of the known formal and conceptual concerns from that period, but through a queer lens.Eventually, he abandoned convention, favoring a more expansive view of the possibilities that an artist's practice could include by embracing a queer social practice and advocacy for the transgender community.This presentation is not a retrospective of his artwork but is comprised of completed sculptural works, drawings, studies, performance, documentary images and films to illustrate and map two key aspects and threads of continuity throughout Ed Shostak's artistic career and life.While the imagery may have changed over the decades, the exhibition is organized to map these threads regardless of the subject matter, form or media. In fact, it becomes apparent that his personal life and art practice were inextricable — one and the same — and ultimately, the artist became both the subject and the art.Shostak had gone full circle from his childhood performances in the family living room to navigating the art world as a gay man and then to activism and politics to become not only his alter ego, but to be himself— transgender.
The gallery's hours: Wednesday-Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. You can view some of the selected works and watch videos with curators Isaac Aden and David Eichholtz at this link.
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