Wednesday, May 22, 2019

A moment with the Party Bus Express on Avenue A this morning



A dispatch from this morning via EVG reader Clare Farris...

This guy was on the east side of Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street at 7 a.m., bus turned off, blocking the entire stop, just chillin. I pointed to the sign and made wtf hands, and he opened the door to talk.
This is a bus stop.

What do you think this is? (Kind of pointing to his obvious bus.)

This is a city bus stop. People get on and off here.

I’m allowed to be here, my friend. [doors close]

The MTA bus driver almost didn’t stop, had to be waved down like a taxi, and wouldn’t even acknowledge me when I asked if he had any way to report shit like this.

If it had been pretty much any other kind of bus, I could carry on with my life. Not when it’s a Party Bus Express.

1-floor expansion planned for Avenue A building that housed the Sidewalk



The new owner of 96-98 Avenue A has filed plans with the city for a one-floor extension at the building that previously housed Sidewalk Bar and Restaurant.

Plans were filed with the Department of Buildings (H/T to the tipster!) back on Friday for the expansion, which will see the building at Sixth Street go from four to five floors.

Despite the expansion, the taller No. 96-98 would have 10 residential units instead of the current 11. The filing also shows that there are plans for a roof deck.

As we've been reporting, a new bar-restaurant is in the works for the ground floor. (Details are scarce.) The Sidewalk, with a long-standing open-mic night, closed in February after 32-plus years in business.

Workers have gutted the former Sidewalk. Here's a look inside the space the other day...


[Reader-submitted photo]

Penn South Capital closed the deal for 96-98 Avenue A for $9.6 million back in March. The listing for the property had stated that the floor area ratio allowed for one more floor to be added to the building.

Pini Milstein was the principal owner of the building as well as the operator of the Sidewalk. Parag Sawhney, founder of Penn South, told Patch in early April that Milstein decided to retire.

As for the new landlord's plans for the building (aside from the extra floor): "We have a new restaurant tenant that will keep the open mic tradition alive. We love the East Village and believe in preserving what make its so special."

Former UCBeast space for rent on Avenue A



We've been waiting for the for-rent signs to arrive outside the former Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's East Village outpost, UCBeast, on Avenue A at Third Street... adjacent to Two Boots.

Well, there aren't any signs, but the space — officially 44 Avenue A — is on the rental market.

Per the Kassin Sabbagh Realty marketing materials...





It's a large space, with entrances on Avenue A and Third Street ... featuring a bar, ADA compliant bathrooms and, most important, a 99-seat theater space.



The rent is available upon request.

The comedy venue on Avenue A and Third Street opened in September 2011. UCB took over part of the expanded Two Boots empire — the video store on Avenue A and the Pioneer Theater around the corner on Third Street...


[Image from 2002 via Cinema Treasures]

The Pioneer Theater, which screened indie, underground and cult fare, closed on Nov. 7, 2008, after an eight-year run. As owner Phil Hartman said at the time: "[I]t was always a labor of love and never commercially viable."

We've talked with several residents of fantasyland who'd love to see the space used for some type of cinematic venture similar to the Metrograph, the boutique two-screen theater — which also features a restaurant, a bookstore and a lounge — down on Ludlow Street.

Citing financial difficulties, Upright Citizens Brigade Theater closed UCBeast on Feb. 9. UCB now presents three nights of programing at SubCulture, a 130-seat venue on Bleecker Street. You can find the schedule for UCB at SubCulture via this link.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Two Boots Video store "in contract" — largest available retail space on Avenue A

[Updated] Your 'Hot Chicks Room' sign update

[Updated] Resident starting a petition to have the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign removed at the Upright Citizens Brigade

Breaking: UCB will remove the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign!

'Hot Chicks Room' sign will now bring ruin to compost

Report: Upright Citizens Brigade closing East Village outpost next month

Reader report: Martial arts for the empty storefront on 11th and C



EVG regular Jose Garcia shares some intel about activity at the long-empty storefront on the southwest corner of 11th Street and Avenue C.

The word from a worker here: A martial arts studio is opening soon ... and it will take up the full corner retail spot.

The space has been empty since August 2017, when the New York Health Choice (aka Eastside Market) gave it up after nearly five years in business.

The previous tenant, the Monk Thrift Shop, closed in December 2010. At the time, neighbors heard that — why not? — a bank branch would open here.

A new sign for Commodities


[Photo by Steven]

The new signage arrived for Commodities Health Food on Monday here at 165 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

As we reported in January, new ownership took over the Commodities Natural Market. The owner, Ashok Patel, took EVG correspondent Steven at the time that he'd eventually be changing the name to Commodities Health Food.

Commodities first opened here between 10th Street and 11th Street in 1993. Last fall, there were rumors that the health-focus market was closing. Thankfully that wasn't the case.

Any reader thoughts on the shop these days? On second thought, don't share your thoughts on the shop these days! There's always Yelp!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Commodities is under new ownership on 1st Avenue

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Spring scenes from Tompkins Square Park



A photogenic spring day in Tompkins Square Park this Tuesday. The top photo comes from riachung00.

... and Allen Semanco shared this shot of honeysuckles...



Also!

Steven spotted a worker dropping dry ice into the rat holes ...







Stylish Rat Ice logo TBH.

Also, as previously noted (likely in middle school science class), dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. As it melts, it turns into carbon dioxide gas, which fills the burrows, suffocating any rats inside. Using dry ice reduces the risk to other animals and children that poison can pose, per an article that I cut and paste this from.

Time for the 24th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts at Theater for the New City



The Theater for the New City is presenting its 24th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, the performance marathon in and around its space at 155 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street starting Friday at 6 p.m. ... and happening through Sunday.

Find the full rundown of performers and artists and times here.

Meanwhile, the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts Exhibit continues... and the opening reception is tomorrow (Wednesday) night from 5:30 to 8.



The multidisciplinary art exhibit features painting, sculpture, photography, collage and mixed media... and it will be up at the Theater for the New City through June 30.

A Stop the Ban rally at Middle Collegiate Church

In response to the spate of anti-abortion legislation in several states, more than 50 organizations, including Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and NARAL Pro-Choice America, are participating in #StopTheBans protests nationwide today.

The Middle Collegiate Church is hosting a rally at noon on its front steps, 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Find more information at the Facebook event page.

The main NYC event takes place at Foley Square starting at 5:30 p.m. Details here.

Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place


[EVG photo from last week]

Workers continue to gut the subterranean space at 20 St. Mark's Place where the Grassroots Tavern was for 42 years (1975-2017).

And late last week, EVG contributor Derek Berg got a look inside at the murals that were discovered on the wall when workers ripped out the bar ...









We don't know how old these are. As we recall, the Grassroots space was previously a Greek restaurant. (If any pre-1975 historians or former GR employees want to chime in about these murals.)

The address, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. (It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.)

-----

Updated 10 a.m.

Thanks to Gar for this link to Daytonian in Manhattan with a post on the history of the building:

By 1931 the house was home to the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant. An incident there on July 1 reflected the gangster-driven atmosphere of the East Village in the Depression Era.

Abe Rothbard was playing cards in the cafe that night. Police later noted he had a criminal record. Patrons noticed an unknown man open the door and motion for Rothbard to go outside. When he reached the door, the man beckoned him to step further out on the sidewalk.

The Times reported "He followed him to the stoop and then four shots were fired by a third man from the sidewalk. Rothbard fell, seriously wounded." The mysterious attackers escaped.

At the beginning of the Depression, Urbain Ledoux had opened The Tub, a homeless shelter, in the old Schuetzen Hall down the block at No. 12 St. Mark's Place. Ledoux, known to the men he helped as “Mr. Zero,” accommodated 135 homeless men on cots and steamer chairs. He advertised “auctions” of the men’s services in order to find them temporary work. On New Year’s Day 1929, over two thousand homeless men ate dinner there. The line outside was unbroken from early morning through the afternoon.

The year following the hit on Abe Rothbard, Ledoux took over the Hungarian Cafe. On January 3, 1932 The Times reported "Urbain Ledoux, who prefers to be called 'Mr. Zero,' announced yesterday that he would open a week from today a temperance saloon to be known a the 'Growler' at 20 St. Mark's Place. He intends to sell in it near-beer for 3 cents a glass; baked beans, soup, pudding, bread, pies and cake at 1 cent an order." Down-and-out men could "take their ease and play dominoes, checkers or cards, or read the newspapers."

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Also late last week, EVG reader and GR regular Eskapee took possession of part of the former Grassroots sign (a worker was putting it out for the taking).



Meanwhile, as we noted last week, the space has been on the retail market. This apparently brought an end to the nearly 18 months Bob Precious had spent trying to open a bar-pub here.

In an email on Friday, Precious provided a recap about what happened to his venture, tentatively called Subterranean:

Essentially, the landlord was not able to deliver the space to us. We waited almost a year and a half from the time we signed our lease for them to complete their work and, as of April 1 of this year, they were not able to commit to a date when their work would be done.

It could easily have been a two-year total wait — an impossible situation for a small company to be in. We had fixed costs — salaries for two employees hired specifically to spearhead that project, and had paid professional fees — designer, legal, structural engineer and HVAC, and could not rationalize staying in any longer. A sad situation for us because we believed in the bar and the location.

There are several unsubstantiated rumors making the rounds about the building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, including that a new tenant has been signed for the old Grassroots space — for an unspecified Asian-style eatery.

What is known, however, is that the place needs a lot of work. Steven took these photos yesterday... showing the old GR bar sink going off to parts unknown...



... and a look inside ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

Parents, students ride together in bid for 2-way protected bike lane on Avenue B


[Photo via @pekochel]

Members of the East Village biking community along with street safety advocates came together yesterday morning to make their case for a protected two-way bike lane on Avenue B.


As the #BikeAveB petition notes:

Despite being a narrow avenue, Avenue B allows two-way travel for cars, but has no dedicated lanes for anybody who wants to ride a bicycle. Yet parents and neighbors alike are already choosing to ride down this unsafe corridor.

To make the problem worse, trucks and commercial vehicles have no curbside loading zones. Every day we see them double-parking in order to make deliveries to the dozens of small businesses along Avenue B.

We need a safe, two-way protected bike lane on Avenue B, complete with pedestrian safety improvements!


[Photo from yesterday]

On June 19, East Village parent Choresh Wald, who helped launch the initiative, will make the case for the bike lanes before Community Board 3's Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment Committee. The meeting starts at 6:30 at the University Settlement, Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making the case for 2-way bike lanes on Avenue B

Looks like a Flamingos Vintage Pound is coming to 1st Avenue



Renovation work is going on inside the papered-up windows at 143 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

EVG correspondent Steven notes that signs are now up inside the windows for Flamingos Vintage Pound...



This will be the latest location for FVP, which as the name implies, sells vintage clothing by the pound. An outpost opened on Stanton Street last summer. The company, now in its 10th year of business, has multiple stores in Europe, as well as in Los Angeles, Houston and Miami.

Anyway, not really what we expected for the space that has been empty for nearly 18 months. It seemed destined to be an e smoke shop.

Until December 2017, this space was home to the bar-restaurant portion of Paquito’s. The quick-serve Mexican restaurant still operates a newly remodeled outpost next door.

Experiential CBD shop opens on 11th Street



Come Back Daily debuted this past Friday over at 516 E. 11th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

EVG regular Gojira shared these photos of the shop that sells a range of products derived from CBD.



Come Back Daily, which also has outposts in Harlem and Tribeca, offers an educational component as well. Per their website:

Come Back Daily was created to solve the issue of misinformation surrounding the Cannabis plant. The community needs a specially curated place that is safe to learn and experience the benefits of CBD, can do for them.

Founder and cannabis expert Steve Phan worked for a CBD company where he noticed a need for peer to peer interaction. While operating the company’s live chat, even after extensive explanations and links to the product for them to purchase, individuals still wanted to come in and see/talk to someone physically.

And there are products...









Come Back Daily is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

This space on 11th Street was previously the 10 Thousand Steps Bookstore, the Hungarian speciality shop/gallery that is in the process of relocating.