Saturday, July 22, 2017

A theft in the Immaculate Conception Church sacristy



Signs are up outside the Immaculate Conception Church on 14th Street near First Avenue... noting a break-in back on Monday...

Per the sign: "[A]n individual was observed making an unauthorized entry into the sacristy through the sanctuary. This individual proceeded to pilfer some small items."

Friday, July 21, 2017

At Death's door



Taiwan Housing Project, featuring members of noise-rock bands Harry Pussy and Little Claw, opens for the Thurston Moore Group tonight at the Bowery Ballroom.

The above track by Taiwan Housing Project is "Veblen Death Mask," from their recently released album of the same name on Kill Rock Stars.

Trumpets of Summer


Trumpets of Summer

The trumpets of summer reverberated,
Whether in celebration or warning,
Its fiery presence assured,
A procession of days before us,
The fanfare of resonance fulfilled.


peter radley

EV Grieve Etc.: Fight for community gardens; hawks in the heat


[Photo in the NYC Marble Cemetery by Derek Berg]

Mapping all the LES developments (Curbed)

Community gardens fighting for survival against developers and the city (Commercial Observer)

LUNGS Environmental Education Project continues with its free urban nature exploration for children in neighborhood community gardens. Learn more about The Living Classroom here.

Saying farewell to the Cup & Saucer (The Lo-Down)

CB4 has joined the ranks of Manhattan community boards calling on DOT to improve safety at intersections along streets with protected bike lanes (StreetsBlog)

The red-tailed hawks in the heatwave (Laura Goggin Photography)

9 facts about Union Square (Gothamist)

City decides to fund community land trusts, including with the Cooper Square Committee (City Limits) ... reaction (City Limits)

An early look at MoMa's upcoming show, "Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983" (Blouin Artinfo)

City retail vacancies climb (The Real Deal)

Tenants of 83 and 85 Bowery protest their "slumlord," the owner of Dr. Jay's (B+B)

Happy No. 12 to Alex! (Flaming Pablum)

Sinkhole in the bike lane along the Stuyvesant Cove Park (Town & Village)

More Mondo Bava this weekend at the Quad on 13th Street (Official website)

AC/DC at the Palladium in August 1977 (Mashable)

... and if the northbound lane of the FDR at East Houston is in your weekend plans...


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Gelarto officially (re)opens on Avenue A



Following an opening sneak preview back in June, the owners of Gelarto closed to make a few improvements to their gelato business at 145 Avenue A at Ninth Street.

On Wednesday, the new shop reopened... EVG contributor Steven shared these photos of the interior...







According to the Gelarto Instagram account, the shop's hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).

Townhouse living on 5th Street for $7.5 million



There's a new listing for 526 E. Fifth St., a single-family residence between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Here are a few highlights via the listing at Compass:

526 East 5th Street is a 20 foot wide single family townhouse spanning over 5,200 square feet across four stories. Originally built in 1900, a modern restoration led by renowned architect Annabelle Selldorf resulted in masterful engineering paired with character rich details. The impressive features include a 35 foot deep extension, exceptional light through four exposures, wide plank reclaimed floors, and a triple exposure windowed kitchen.

And!

One of the highlights of this home is the entire fourth floor devoted to the master suite. Stretching across this level is the oversized master bedroom with a wood burning fireplace, dressing room, incredible windowed bathroom, and sunlit private den with exposed beams. This one-of-a-kind bathroom is lined with custom Moroccan fish scale tiles and features a dual vanity, claw foot tub and oversized stall shower. The charming den has floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a juliet balcony, a black marble powder room and a spiral staircase leading to the roof deck.

Additional amenities include a roof deck with treetop and downtown Manhattan views, a full sized laundry room on the garden level, brand new wiring and mechanicals, central AC, massive storage cellar and Citiquiet windows.

The listing has many interior shots... and in case you wondered what happened to the signage from Allied Hardware on Second Avenue. (Icon Realty wouldn't renew their lease.) We heard that the hardware store owners sold the sign for $100...



The asking price is $7.5 million.

Several years ago the multiple-dwelling building became a single-family residence. The new townhouse arrived on the market for $8.45 million in 2013.

An LLC called 526 E. 5th Street with a Brooklyn address bought the building for $3.2 in 2011. It changed hands to an LLP in 2015 for $6.5 million, per public record. It's unclear if any actual humans were living here.

The Living Stage Summer Festival coming to Meltzer Tower Garden



You may have seen some activity at Meltzer Tower Garden on First Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...



Volunteers from the Superhero Clubhouse along with University Settlement are prepping the space for the Living Stage Summer Festival.

Here are details via Facebook:

The Living Stage combines horticulture, theatrical design, and community engagement to create recyclable, biodegradable, biodiverse, and edible performance spaces.

Created by and for the Lower East Side community, The Living Stage Summer Festival features family-friendly activities including a live, original, intergenerational performance, music, gardening information sessions, and tours. There will be opportunities to engage with local nonprofits, businesses, gardeners, artists, and community leaders. Join us!

A free event for the whole family!

Meltzer Tower Garden, 94 E 1st St

Friday, August 4, 5-8pm
Saturday, August 5, 12-5pm
Free Outdoor Performance: Friday 7pm, Saturday 4pm

Find more info here ... and here.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Thursday's parting shot



Photo on First Avenue today by Derek Berg

Saturday in Tompkins Square Park



Via the EVG inbox...

WHO: Blonde Boy Wilson + The Chosen Frozen - Gas - Skitzopolis - Ruckus Interruptus - Universal Truth Machine - Density ... plus special guest Jennifer Blowdryer

WHAT: Amazing bands, political speakers and literature tables

WHEN: Saturday, July 22, 2 pm - 6 pm

Sponsored by The Shadow (the latest edition will be available at the show)...

Updated with new flyers...



Report: Man arrested after 3 failed bank robberies


The NYPD has arrested a man for attempting (unsuccessfully) to rob three local banks, two on the Lower East Side and one on Broadway near Astor Place.

"This was a very bad bank robber," a police source told The Post, who reported that cops arrested Richard Callison, 22, of Oradell, N.J., near 14th Street and Third Avenue.

During his attempted robbery Tuesday at the Bank of America on Delancey Street:

[He] also failed to make off with any dough, despite passing the teller a note that said: “Give me all the big bills, make the wrong move and you will get shot.”

The missive ended with the words: “Rapido, rapido.”

The teller was not intimidated by the note, and simply locked her drawer and walked away from the window, leaving the crook standing there empty handed, police sources said.

Neither here nor there but the suspect does have a passing resemblance to Spaulding Smails from "Caddyshack."

I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant

East Village resident Susan Schiffman has been photographing the apartments of rent-stabilized tenants living in the East Village for her Instagram account, I Am a Rent Stabilized Tenant. Starting today, she is sharing some of the photos here for a new EVG feature.





Tenants: Drew (since 1997) and Mia

Why did you move to the East Village?
Drew had been coming to the city for many years to attend the Halloween parade and visit his brother. He moved here from Colorado. One year he dressed up as Prince. His first roommate in the apartment's birthday was Oct. 31.

How did you get your apartment?
Drew was interested in the apartment but lost it to two NYU students. The first night the students moved in they went out for the night. When they came back all of their stuff had been stolen. They decided they didn't want to live there and Drew got the apartment.

What is your favorite thing about where you live?
The stoop. Drew said he met practically everyone he knows on his block on the night of a blackout. He brought out his grill and started grilling all the food in his fridge before it went bad. Neighbors brought out chicken wings. A nearby restaurant brought over some sushi tuna to grill.







If you're interested in inviting Susan in to photograph your apartment for an upcoming post, then you may contact her via this email.

More about Boris and Horton, the dog-friendly cafe coming to Avenue A


[The same photo I posted on Monday]

Back on Monday, I reported that Boris and Horton, billed as "New York's first dog friendly coffee shop and community space," was in the works for the former Ost Cafe and Raclette spaces on Avenue A at 12th Street.

The applicants, Coppy Holzman and his daughter, Logan Holzman, appeared before CB3's SLA committee meeting that night for a new beer-wine license.

Allegra Hobbs at DNAinfo was at the meeting, and has more details in this article:

Boris and Horton, named for owners Coppy and Logan Holzman's respective pooches, will be divided by a glass wall into two sections per Department of Health rules — a cafe side will offer up beverages alongside pastries and sandwiches, while the pet-friendly side will provide a lounging space for folks with dogs, plus a photo booth and pet supplies.

"It's like basically going to someone's nice living room with your dog, and it's adjacent to a place where you can get all your food and coffee," said Coppy Holzman.

And!

Patrons are free to move between the spaces as long as their dogs stay on the designated dog side, explained the Holzmans — and staff will be on hand to momentarily watch dogs if an owner has to dash to grab a coffee.

And dog-less New Yorkers who just want to hang out with a bunch of dogs are welcome throughout, they said.

The CB3-SLA committee approved the application with some stipulations, "including installing soundproofing and monitoring noise from canine visitors."

Boris and Horton is expected to be open this winter.

Café Floral Delight now open on 10th Street



Café Floral Delight opened earlier this month at 380 E. 10th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Here's more about the operation via the cafe's Facebook page:

Café Floral Delight offers delicious coffee from Devoción, pastries from the wonderful Balthazar, and beautiful custom designed buttercream cupcakes by Jiahn, the owner herself.

EVG reader EVJackie, who shared these photos, stopped by yesterday and wrote in:

I went in this morning and got a cold brew and a sugar cookie that was decorated with edible flowers. They have other goodies too, like cupcakes and various breakfast-type pastries. They were also promoting their yogurt/compote parfait today by giving away free samples. It was pretty good, so I'll probably go back.



The cafe's hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday...


[EVG photo]

Meanwhile, next door, I Salon is coming soon... it appears to be their second NYC location...



The I Salon space was previously home to a pawn shop, which moved to a new storefront a block away between Avenue C and Avenue D.

N'eat is currently closed


N'eat, which serves "New Nordic fare," has not been open this past week (and perhaps longer) here at 58 Second Ave. The sign on the door between Third Street and Fourth Street says: "Due to unforeseen building issues, we have to close temporarily for maintenance work."



There isn't any mention of the closure on the restaurant's website or social media properties. A call to the restaurant reveals that the number is no longer in service. N'eat is not accepting reservations, and OpenTable notes that the restaurant is "permanently closed." Lastly, there aren't any new work permits, which might indicate work on the building, on file for the address at the DOB.

The restaurant opened in early November.