Large tree branch down in Tompkins Square Park

Thanks to EVG reader Colleen Egan for sharing these photos this morning … of a large branch that, at least from the top photo, looks as if it came down nearly on top of Temperance Fountain…



The tree (is this an elm?) branch looked rotted out on the inside.

Updated 10:11 a.m.

Here are more photos via EVG reader bonatron9000…







… and via EVG reader Bayou…

I want to believe

EVG regular Spike noticed what could be a UFO... or maybe swamp gas ... over the neighborhood this evening.

Perhaps there are other theories...

The 2nd Avenue Festival is today (on 2nd Avenue)

Today's street festival is brought to you by the Cooper Square Committee.

Technically, yes, it is a Street Fair! But there are some local businesses involved, aside from the usual stuff (tube socks, fried calamari in a hoof, etc.).

As for local businesses, B&H Dairy owners Fawzy and Ola Abdelwahed will be selling T-shirts, as they did during the Second Avenue Street Fair back on May 9...


[Photo from May 9 by Derek Berg]

B&H has yet to reopen after the deadly gas explosion on March 26.

The festival is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today… from East 14th Street to East Sixth Street.

The first Zeppoles-Funnel Cake-Leomonade-Fruit Punch truck was just setting up when we were touring the Festival grounds walked by this morning …



… here are two shots of vendors setting up via Derek Berg…





Updated 1:57 p.m.


[Photo by Vinny & O]

Closing time at the Odessa for the night

Earlier this morning at the Odessa, 119 Avenue A. Photo by Michael Sean Edwards

Noted

@evgrieve Mace comes in such cute packaging now. pic.twitter.com/fNoGX9GRx4

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) June 12, 2015

Demon drop

"Boys," the latest record from Crocodiles, came out on May 12. Slightly underwhelmed by the effort to date, though this track, "Crybaby Demon," grew on us.

The wait for the Fuku fried chicken sandwich

[The line on East 10th Street around noon today]

EVG reader Chad Solomon stopped by the hyped-up Fuku, the new quick-serve fried chicken sandwich place from Momofuku's David Chang that opened Wednesday at 163 First Ave. just north of East 10th Street.

Here's what he had to say:

"Line was around the corner — took us about 35 minutes to get inside to order but then another 45 to wait for the food, so an hour and 20 minutes total. But my God was it worth it — crispy and flavorful on the outside, nice and juicy inside."

Fuku is currently only open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

EV Grieve Etc.: A change in leadership at Cooper Union; a gallery show for Christo & Dora

[Photo outside Gem Spa via Derek Berg]

Cooper Union president resigns amid tuition controversy (DNAInfo)

Drilling underway at former Streit’s Matzo Factory on Rivington (BoweryBoogie)

Leather boutique The Cast closes for now on Orchard Street (The Lo-Down)

Marcha Cocina opens on Avenue C (Bedford + Bowery)

A visit to Bar 169 on East Broadway (Gothamist)

Screening tonight: "Rumble Fish," "Never Too Young to Rock" and Stephanie Gray's Super 8MMs (Anthology Film Archives)

Swans fans take note (Flaming Pablum)

Inside "The Wolfpack" (ABC News)

A visit to the Merchant's House on East Fourth Street (The Villager)

Will the 90-year-old Palm Restaurant return? (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

"New York City turns out to be just a massive cesspool of hazardous waste" (Curbed)

Record executive on why he didn't sign the Clash (Dangerous Minds)

... and in the past few years, you've likely seen some of Goggla's photos of red-tailed hawk parents Christo and Dora (and their numerous offspring) ... now there's an exhibit of her work titled "Christo and Dora: Recent Photographs by Laura Goggin." There's a reception tomorrow from 4-7 p.m. at the Crony Gallery, 437 E. 12th St. #26, between First Avenue and Avenue A (it is a fifth-floor walkup). Find more info here.


[Photo by Goggla]

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

Last October, a tipster who lives on East 13th Street and University Place said that the whole corner would be demolished — from University Place Gourmet on the corner to Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry a storefront away on the side street. At the time, we didn't get any other confirmation that anything was imminent.

Until now.



The signs went up last week noting that Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry is closing for good after today… (Jeremiah Moss first noted this last week.)





And yesterday, several EVG readers told us that University Place Gourmet has closed after 30 years of the current ownership (47 years in business total).



The owners left a heartfelt goodbye…



Back to the tipster in the fall.

Apparently the buildings that house University Place Gourmet, the doggy day care and Benny Louie Laundry have all been sold to one person and will be coming down. I was in Benny Louie this morning and was told the new owner came by and advised that they have about 6 months before they will need to get out.

To date though, nothing has shown up yet in public records to note a sale… or impending demolition.

There's a lot of new luxury development along this corridor. Bowlmor Lanes, University Place Gourmet's former neighbor, closed last July … and is being replaced by a 23-story residential building. There are other condos projects in the works along this corridor, so might as have one more.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

[Updated] Work underway on the new residential conversion on East 7th Street

[October 2011]

It was all the way back in October 2011 when we first heard about Villa Capri, a new residential building coming to 222 E. Seventh St. just west of Avenue C.

The sign eventually disappeared, as did any chatter about the project. However, in December 2013, the city signed off on the application for the new building. Plans show that the current single-family residence will nearly double in size… with an additional two floors on the way. The plans show eight dwelling units in total.

And the point of all this is to say work has started at No. 222, which looks rather hallowed out now…



No word just yet if the development is still going by Villa Capri, which sounds like a resort in St. Lucia or something.

As we pointed out previously, the address was the onetime studio of famed sculpturist Louise Nevelson.

Updated 10:10 a.m.

Oh! Somehow we missed the rendering on the plywood... here's what's to come... (thanks Dave on 7th!)



Previously on EV Grieve:
Villa Capri condos coming to Seventh Street

Drilling at the former 2nd Avenue BP station

We've been waiting for something construction-y to happen at the former BP station on Second Avenue at East First Street. Workers removed the iconic pumps and underground tanks in December.

The Deal Deal reported back in the fall that a new development with 50,000 square feet of condominiums and 7,000 square feet of retail is on the way. However, permits for a new building are not on file yet with the Department of Buildings. (The most recent permit is for the construction fence! Woo!)

But there is a some sort of drilling rig contraception (or is this a quinzhee?) … drilling and soil testing at the site now.

Also, is anyone going to see that Morrissey-Blondie show June 27 at the Garden?



Previously on EV Grieve:
RUMOR: Gas station going, boutique hotel coming on Second Avenue? (31 comments)

BP station on 2nd Avenue closes this month

The 2nd Avenue BP station has closed

Report: 50,000 square feet of condos coming to the former 2nd Avenue BP station

Permits filed to demolish former 2nd Avenue BP station

It was so hot today that East 9th Street started melting

[Photo by William Klayer]

Well, OK but there is a sinkhole forming just west of Second Avenue. So take extra care then when crossing the street here without looking in either direction.

Problems finding an apartment?

From the Post:

Almost 99 percent of Manhattan rentals are currently occupied, according to a new market report.

The vacancy rate is now 1.07 percent, the lowest it has been in three years, Citi Habitats reports.

Last year at this time, Manhattan vacancies were at 1.17 percent.

Read the whole article here.

Thursday's best

Photo on Second Avenue today via Derek Berg