New boutique office building on East Houston shows off some glass

This is the first sign of the floor-to-ceiling glass wall for the 9-story office building at 141 E. Houston St. ... as the construction netting has dropped a bit here between Eldridge and Forsyth. 

Completion of the 65,000-square-foot space is slated for the fourth quarter of 2021, per the 141 website.

Our previous post (here!) on No. 141 has more details about what's been happening here to date at the site of the former Sunshine Cinema (RIP January 2018). 

Updated 8/13

An August break for Baker's Pizza

ICYMI: Baker's Pizza at 201 Avenue A is closed for August... door signage points to "renovations & improvements."

The pizzeria, which also now has an outpost on 10th Avenue, opened here between 12th Street and 13th Street in February 2016.

Reader report: Pete's Tavern looking closer to reopening

Updated 8/10: Pete's reopens today at 4 p.m.

From just outside the usual coverage zone ... an EVG Irving Place correspondent reports signs of life at old-timer Pete's Tavern.

In the past two weeks, help-wanted signs for wait and kitchen staff have arrived on the restaurant's front door here on Irving Place and 18th Street. In addition, three smallish curbside dining spaces were erected this past week...

The circa-1864 Pete's Tavern has not been open since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. There was some talk last fall among neighbors that Pete's was going to reopen. (And given the ample space for Pete's sidewalk cafe, regulars, including the EVG correspondent, were surprised that they didn't restart the dining service much earlier.) 

According to one published report, an employee died from COVID-19 in the spring of 2020 and three others tested positive.

So far, Pete's has not posted a reopening date on its website or social media properties.

Broken stage rail derails show at Webster Hall

Webster Hall's return to live events this weekend didn't go as planned. (Note: These were the first shows since the pandemic closure in March 2020. The renovated facility reopened in April 2019.)

WE ARE BACK! so stoked for this Saturday night with @maraudamusic, @calciumdubs and @guppisound 🔥🔥🔥 don’t miss this! >> https://t.co/0SW0LpjNTU pic.twitter.com/ph4NZbwkRM

— Webster Hall (@WebsterHall) August 3, 2021

The plug was pulled during the first act of a late dubstep show last night at the venue on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. 

There were several errant reports of a "stage collapse" before word circulated that a stage rail broke during Chicago-based dubstep artist Guppi's set...

Hey Webster Hall just shut down within the first 15 mins of my set. Yes I broke the rail. It’s broken

— Guppi (@guppisound) August 8, 2021

Webster Hall officials then announced that the show would not continue, and scheduled acts Calcium and the headliner, Sydney, Australia-based Marauda, making his NYC debut, never got to play.

what the fuck....

— MARAUDA (@maraudamusic) August 8, 2021

Here's the moment those in attendance learned that the show wasn't going on...

@WebsterHall WHAT THE FUCK DUDE U REALLY GONNA CANCEL THE @maraudamusic SHOW pic.twitter.com/a80vYpsRy7

— Scvno (@Scvnoo) August 8, 2021

While videos from Citizen show emergency personnel at the scene, there weren't any reports of injuries. CBS 2 pieced together a report from the Citizen clips (and they incorrectly stated that the venue is in Midtown). The NYPD was on the scene to help with crowd control.

 

Webster Hall has not yet released a statement about what happened. 

Meanwhile, fans who made the trip are understandably pissed and are asking about refunds.

@maraudamusic @axs @WebsterHall so like are we getting refunds for last night's cancelled show? I didn't even get to go inside...

— тrιcια (@plurxwarrior) August 8, 2021

@WebsterHall any insight on what happened tonight for the @maraudamusic show tonight? feel like we all deserve a refund after this disaster

— lost lands hype man (@fastonfour) August 8, 2021

Hour and a half drive both ways, so much in tolls, paid more to park than what my ticket even cost. All that for Webster Hall to screw me and tell me to go home https://t.co/4e0KnFR4y3

— Mike Rosivack (@mikerosi97) August 8, 2021

Week in Grieview

Posts from this past week include (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg) ... 

• First sign of the B Bar & Grill-replacing 21-story office building on the Bowery (Monday)

• Construction hell is consuming the intersection of 1st Avenue at 7th Street (Tuesday) 

• About Hi Noona, serving up unique Korean-influenced juices and smoothies on 12th Street (Wednesday) 

• La Plaza Cultural debuts two free lending libraries (Tuesday) 

• The two-story dining structure that almost was on 4th Street (Monday)

• Indoor masking recommend for vaccinated New Yorkers; local businesses change entry policies (Tuesday) 

• I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Thursday) 

• Ravi DeRossi is doubling down on Ladybird and Cadence on 7th Street (Thursday) 

• A stop by the newly reopened Pyramid Club on Avenue A (Friday) 

• A farewell, for now, as Pinc Louds hit the road (Tuesday) 

• Late night with Hello Mary (Thursday)

• Remembering Biz Markie (Monday) • Space jam: Planet Taco remains temporarily closed (Thursday) 

• Gutting the former Food Emporium on Union Square (Wednesday) 

• Wegmans makes it sign official on Astor Place, plus other thoughts on the grocer's arrival (Monday) 

• Here's what's coming to the former Brindle Room space on 10th Street (Wednesday) 

• Mug & Cup bringing coffee and juice to Avenue C (Wednesday) 

• Report of a fire at 94 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) ... and a trash can fire at Nublu (Wednesday)

• Art+Ray debuts salon and gallery space on 9th Street (Friday) 

• Bagel Boss opens on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Gorillas will be in the mix at this 14th Street retail space (Monday) 

• Lucky Star signage arrives on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• New signage day for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

And thanks to Lola Sáenz (and a few other folks!) who pointed out this towering sunflower on the SW corner of 11th Street and First Avenue...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

Drawing lines ahead of the new Avenue C bike lanes

From this past week... workers from the Department of Transportation started marking Avenue C for the new bike lanes. 

Dave on 7th shared the top photo from between Ninth Street and 10th Street. He notes that on this stretch, there are also new "No Standing" signs installed. 

The new bike lanes will eliminate some free, non-metered street parking, which was the focus of a story this morning on NY1. Local Uber driver Myen Uddin told the station that he is concerned about being able to find a place to park.

"I already earn so less," Uddin said. "How can I afford a garage? $400 a month. No one can afford that!"

And...

... with outdoor dining structures and Citi Bike stations already replacing what used to be non-metered parking spaces near Avenue C and East 9th Streets, concerned residents like Uddin believe if the free parking spaces go away, he'll soon have to move outside the city.

"It's too much challenge for me for me right now," said Uddin. "I gotta leave the city. Go somewhere else."

NY1 also spoke with a local resident, Thomas Grenier, who welcomed the changes.

"The city is historically centered and organized around cars, so anything that will make the city more friendly to renewable energy and bicyclists is a good thing," Grenier said.

Meanwhile, other markings along the avenue show the buffer zones that will protect cyclists from cars and trucks.

As previously reported, DOT flyers along Avenue C provide details of the coming changes...

Improvements along C include: 

• Curbside bike lanes between Houston and Fourth Street 

• Parking-protected, bollard-protected and curbside bike lanes between Fourth Street and 18th Street 

• Updated parking regulations to provide truck loading zones 

• Neighborhood loading zones on select side streets 

• Painted pedestrian islands between 11th Street and 15th Street 

• New left-turn bays at 10th Street and 14th Street 

You can find many more details in the presentation that DOT officials made to CB3 back in April. (PDF here)

As reported last fall, the DOT is adding the protected north/south bike lanes on Avenue C and East Houston Street to help offset the upcoming closure of the East River Park greenway.

Saturday's parting shot

A scene from Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Steven...

The 33rd annual Tompkins Square Riot reunion shows are happening this weekend

The free concerts commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the Tompkins Square Police Riot of Aug. 6, 1988 are happening this weekend.

Here are the lineups for the afternoon shows (set to start at 2 and end at 6):

Saturday:

• Johnny KT

• Val Kinzler

• Les Bicyclettes Blanches

• Skitzopolis

• Jezo Black + The Element

• Sea Monster

• SEWAGE

Sunday:

• Dutch Gutz

• Ruckus Interruptus

• The Idolizers

• The NIHILISTICS

• Hot Knives

• Drogato

There will also be a number of guest speakers on both days.

The organizers – The Shadow — had their previously approved permits revoked by the Parks Department after the April 24 show. A lawyer for the organizers had been negotiating the return of the permits. 

Updated 8/9:

Find some pics from the shows here.

A 'Night' like this

 

"End Of The Night" is the first single off the recently released EP by Brooklyn veterans A Place to Bury Strangers... which is also the first release on their own newly formed label, Dedstrange. 

And, FYI, today is Bandcamp Friday — where the music platform waives its revenue share for the day.

Summer Streets returns to the streets this summer

The annual Summer Streets celebration returns on the first two Saturdays of the month (August! Tomorrow!) in which nearly seven miles of NYC roadways are closed to vehicles for people to run, walk, bike, etc.

As in previous years, this car-free zone includes Lafayette, Astor Place and Fourth Avenue.

This is the 13th edition of the event, which was on hiatus last August amid the pandemic.

You can find more details about Summer Streets at this link, including what kind of activities to expect along the route. There are several things planned for Astor Place, including fitness classes.  

Nexus Flea returns to flea-market action tomorrow on 1st and 1st

The Nexus Flea will be on First Avenue and First Street tomorrow (Saturday!) from noon to 6 p.m. ... where you'll find vendors selling vinyl, vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, concert t-shirts and more...

A stop by the newly reopened Pyramid Club on Avenue A

The next iteration of the Pyramid Club reopened last Saturday evening at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

There were rumors of a return early last week... before the arrival of a flyer for a "House of Dance" party with DJ Force 1.

   

A quick recap of what has happened here. The iconic East Village venue shuttered its doors this past spring after 41 years in business. The club had been closed since March 7, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic.

Manager Maria Narciso and her fiancé, longtime general manager and house DJ TM.8 (aka Quirino Perez), learned of the permanent closure and subsequent layoff via a text message from ownership in late March.

Apparently, there was a change in plans. (Earlier this year, 101 Avenue A was listed on Loopnet for rent as a retail space. That listing, first posted on March 6, was subsequently removed.)

This past Saturday evening, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the Pyramid. Given the short notice about a reopening, the space — currently confined to the main level — was fairly empty at 11:15 p.m. 

As we understand it, the daughter of the longtime club owners, who are also the building's landlord, will be running the show. She's joined by a few familiar faces who previously worked at the venue. For now, the Pyramid will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. as they look to build up a following.

Here's a look around reopening night ...

... Beary White, a former longtime Pyramid regular who travels with his own disco ball, stopped by ... (he would later turn up at Drom for Temptation Saturday)...

Stacie then stopped by Drom down the block where Narciso and DJ TM.8 have been hosting their 80s dance party, Temptation Saturday, one of the former theme nights at the Pyramid... 

Upon hearing the news of the Pyramid's reopening, Narciso and DJ TM.8 released a statement on Instagram last week that read in part:

We cherish the times spent managing the venue ... We wish everyone who is involved with reopening well, much success. We want to remind everyone that they have every right to do as they wish with their business, and ask that their wishes be respected.

Another former theme night at the Pyramid, DJ TM.8's Dark 80s Dance Party (dark wave, synthpop and post-punk!) starts at the Parkside Lounge next Thursday night after a stint at Eris in Williamsburg. And on Aug. 28, Defcon NYC Industrial returns for a one-night stand at Parkside Lounge.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Packing up the last of The Pyramid Club