RIP Roland Legiardi-Laura

[Image via Nuyorican Poets Cafe]

Several residents have passed along the sad news that longtime East Village resident, Roland Legiardi-Laura, died on Wednesday of cancer. He was in his early 60s.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe on East Third Street, where he served as a director, posted this on Facebook:

With sadness and fond memories, we raise our glasses to poet, filmmaker and longtime Cafe board member Roland Legiardi-Laura, who passed today. A champion of East Village arts groups, Roland directed the Fifth Night Screenplay Series, founded Power Poetry and co-directed the film "To Be Heard." He was a friend and mentor to many, and he will be greatly missed.

In July 2000, The New York Times profiled Legiardi-Laura (focusing on how he bought a derelict loft space for $10,000 in 1978 inside the former Tompkins Square Boys' Lodging House on Avenue B at Eighth Street):

A poet and filmmaker, Mr. Legiardi-Laura, 47, is perhaps best known as a director of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, the East Village institution he helped to revive after years of dormancy. His colorful curriculum vitae also includes "Azul," a documentary he directed about the Nicaraguan passion for poetry, and founding Words to Go, a traveling troupe of poets who brought verse to museum steps and street corners.

Now, he is beginning work on a three-part documentary about the history and purpose of American public schooling. "Roland is that rarest of modern social phenomena," said John Gatto, the 1991 New York State Teacher of the Year, who was the project's inspiration. "He is a significant player in cultural and community affairs who's not beholden to institutions or corporations -- a citizen, in the Jeffersonian sense of the word."

Mr. Legiardi-Laura is also the consummate autodidact, the sort who knows the ages of trees in Tompkins Square Park because he dug up the original survey maps.

And he is passionate about the East Village. Asked what he likes about it, he replied, "I'll give you a history of the neighborhood, briefly." Then he continued, straight-faced, "Twelve thousand years ago..."

The Times reveals the Streit's-replacing condos; Ben Shaoul wordsmiths gentrification

[Streit's factory photo via BoweryBoogie]

We've been talking about "Streit’s: Matzo and the American Dream" this past week.

The documentary by East Village-based filmmaker Michael Levine started its week-long run Wednesday at the Film Forum. (There's also a Streit's-related exhibit happening at Art on A Gallery, 24 Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street.)

The last family-owned matzo bakery in America closed its four-building factory on Rivington Street last year after 90 years in that location. As you likely know, the developers who bought the property have condos planned for the site.

Today, The New York Times published the first rendering of the new residential complex (the article was online on Thursday, which is why you may have seen this already elsewhere) ...


[Volley Studios via the Times]

Per the Times, 150 Rivington will be a 7-story glass condo "that will house 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Sales begin in May, with one-bedrooms starting at around $975,000."

Developers said that they plan to decorate the lobby with memorabilia from the original building.

BoweryBoogie also has part of an interview with Streit's co-owner Aron Yagoda, who tells of Mayor de Blasio snubbing his offer of a tour of the factory.

Streit's now operates out of more modern facilities in Rockland County.

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The piece in the Times focused on small businesses on the Lower East Side that are disappearing... and how Katz's was able to continue moving into the future by selling their air rights for $17 million... so that developer Ben Shaoul could then tear down the rest of the block
for an 11-(or 12!) story condoplex with an Equinox Fitness in the retail space on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard.

Ray's Pizza, Bereket and Lobster Joint, among others — closed or moved in the process.

"I’m sorry they went out of business, but it’s part of evolution," Shaoul told the Times. "You call it gentrification, I call it 'cleaning it up.'"

Last legs for East 7th Street street art

[Photo from November by Derek Berg]

Back in November, artist Ernest Zacharevic created this tribute to Lil Crazy Legs on East Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue (next to Porchetta).

Now it's gone... buried under a tag last night... (the aerosol cans disappeared earlier...)



Zacharevic recreated photojournalist Martha Cooper's shots from the 1970s-80s around the city. Lil Crazy Legs — aka Richard Colón of the Bronx-based Rock Steady Crew from the early 1980s — is on the cover of her photo book "Hip Hop Files: Photographs 1979-1984."

Video interludes: NYC in 1993

An EVG reader shared this video... a pleasant 5-minute excursion around Manhattan (sticking to Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, etc.) in 1993. Its purpose, via the YouTube explanation: "In 2002 D-Theater D-VHS launched in the US — the dealers needed a demo tape of HD footage. JVC reused some HD video [from 1993] that had been shot."

The camera is on East Third Street at the 1:42 mark, where a member of the Hells Angels enacts the no-camera policy... and there's a quick scan on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue then from 1:44 - 1:54 ...

Openings: Desi Galli on Avenue B

As previously reported, the proprietors of the well-regarded Desi Galli on Lexington Avenue and East 27th Street were opening a location at 172 Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street (the old Mercadito Cantina space).

Anyway, Desi Galli, which offers quick-serve Indian food, opened this past Wednesday (a few days later than previously announced) ... and they are open late (or early depending on your schedule) ...

Open until 3am in the #eastvillage. #midnightsnack

— Desi-Galli (@DesiGalliNY) April 23, 2016

'Summer' happens so fast

The Barcelona-based Zephyr Bones have a new single out today... which might be a good time — given the temps today — to play "Weird Summer" from their debut EP "Wishes/Fishes" from 2014.

Prince tribute at Dallas BBQ?

Or maybe just a coincidence here on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

Photo by EVG Dallas BBQ correspondent Steven

EV Grieve Etc.: Fatal assault at Project Renewal Men's Shelter; new work from Peter Missing

[Smartphone falls off billboard on the Bowery? Photo by Derek Berg]

Felony assault arrest in fatal fight at Project Renewal Men's Shelter on East Third Street (PIX 11)

AEG Live buying Bowery Presents (Billboard)

Kitchen tub in East 11th Street apartment marketed as "vintage detail" (Curbed)

A talk with Cochise and Clayton Patterson, co-authors of "The Street Gangs of the Lower East Side" (Bedford + Bowery)

Prince at the Roxy in 1981 (Dangerous Minds)

About the first show at the International Center of Photography, opening soon on the Bowery (The Lo-Down)

Hunting with Christo in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)

A move for the Pickle Guys (BoweryBoogie)

On Sunday: The romantic-comedy "The Square Root of Zero" (1963) "pits a pair of Village beatniks against a clan of moneyed squares vacationing on the Maine coast." (Anthology Film Archives)

Some presidential history of the Church of the Ascension, on Fifth Avenue and 10th Street (Ephemeral New York)

...and Peter Missing has put up new work this past week at First Street Green Art Park ... Find more on it at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York ...

#missingfoundation on Houston and 2nd ave park. pic.twitter.com/qwNye2EZHH

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) April 20, 2016

Former 'Most Interesting Man in the World' now down and out on the Bowery

Tough times following retirement...

Photo yesterday on the Bowery near Third Street by Derek Berg

Remembering Prince: 'Purple Rain' showing Monday night at Village East Cinema

[Thanks to @justzubin for the photo]

Monday, April 25 at 7. Tix are on sale here.

The theater is on Second Avenue at East 12th Street.



And "Purple Rain" is the midnight movie at the Sunshine Cinema on the weekend of May 13-14.

New plans for a 6-story building at 253 E. 7th St.

[Photo from November by Daniel Root]

A demolition crew reduced the former four-story residence at 253 E. Seventh St. between Avenue C and Avenue D into a lot of rubble late last year.

Meanwhile, plans for a 6-story building with six residences never met with city approval.

Now the developer, BSD Realty, has filed new plans for the property. As New York Yimby first reported yesterday, the developers filed new plans this week with Issac & Stern Architects designing the project — another 6-story, 6-residential building with a penthouse... "its units should average a spacious 1,498 square feet apiece, indicative of condominiums." (Ramy Issac of Issac and Stern is well-known for many East Village projects, including 100 Avenue A and 154 Second Ave... and various penthouses.)

As we noted in February, the address is for sale. The listing is still active at the E Property Group website. Among the options here, per the listing: "Your dream custom mansion townhouse." But it looks as if a residential building is the plan.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Options for this lovely East 7th Street townhouse include demolition

New building in the works for 253 E. 7th St.

The disappearing 253 E. 7th St.

253 E. 7th St. is now a pile of bricks

Property at 253 E. 7th St. now for sale; perfect for a 'dream custom mansion townhouse'


[Image from 2014 via Massey Knakal]

Concern for East Village Cheese Shop

East Village Cheese Shop opened in its new home on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue last Sept. 29.

The shop's lease at 40 Third Ave. between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street was up at the end of last July, with its former neighbor Duane Reade apparently moving into the adjacent storefronts.

Based on reader comments ... and conversations with friends and neighbors, people were pleased that the store was able to stay in the neighborhood, albeit in a smaller space.

However, a few people who shop here regularly have concerns about its financial health. Per an EVG reader: "East Village Cheese went back to cash only and the minimum counter order went up to half a pound from a quarter-pound."



The reader feels as if these are bad signs... along with the fact that there's rarely anyone in the store upon the reader's visits...

The shop is usually also empty when I stop in ... and it certainly lacks the energy of the Third Avenue space. Another EVG reader felt similarly about St. Mark's Bookshop moving from Third Avenue to East Third Street .. the the store just lost something in the new location on a side street.

Said the Cheese Shop regular: "I would be so sad to lose it after the long wait for it to reopen."

Updated 4/23

A few people asked about this. The owners Thupten Tenphel and Lobbing Tsultrim, who are from Tibet, worked at the shop... and bought it from owner Alvin Kaufman when he retired in 2005.

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Duane Reade expansion will take over adjacent storefronts, including East Village Cheese (74 comments)

[Updated] Confirmed: East Village Cheese will be moving to Avenue A later this year

East Village Cheese makes move to 7th Street official

[Updated] Work starts on new home of the East Village Cheese Shop

Looking at the incoming East Village Cheese shop on East 7th Street

Bingbox Snow Cream Co. opens Sunday on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

Starting Sunday afternoon at 3, you'll be able to enjoy "the finest and purest snowflake dessert to be enjoyed all year round" with the grand opening of the Bingbox Snow Cream Co. shop.

This opening info comes via the Bingbox Facebook page. (There's a coupon there for a $1 off your order.)

The Snow Creamers are located at 125 Second Ave. between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place,

The storefront was previously home to E-Nail, which closed last September.

Previously on EV Grieve:
'Snowflake dessert' coming soon to 2nd Avenue

Kaz signage arrives at former Cafecito space on Avenue C

The signage for Kaz has arrived at 185 Avenue C near 12th Street.

We don't know too much about the place, which is taking over the former Cafecito space.

The applicant was on CB3's SLA committee docket in February (as Caz, per the paperwork) for a full liquor license (like Cafecito had). The proposed menu included salads, sandwiches and various items described as "large bites." (The menu is on the questionnaire here.)

CB3 recommended to deny the license, according to the minutes from the meeting...

WHEREAS, this is an application for a "large bites" restaurant with hours of operation of 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 A.M. Sundays through Thursdays and 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 A.M. Fridays and Saturdays, a fifteen (15) foot bar with eight (8) stools, three (3) forty-two (42) inch screen televisions and recorded background music; and

WHEREAS, notwithstanding that this location has a business with a full on-premise liquor license, that this application is for a bulk asset sale, and that this applicant furnished twenty- nine (29) petition signatures in support of its application, this applicant did not demonstrate that it has the experience or is prepared to operate a business with a full on-premise liquor license, in that it has limited experience managing a licensed business outside of this community since 2013 and did not articulate a well-thought out business plan with defined personnel and menu; and

WHEREAS, although respresented to be a restaurant, the proposed business plan appears to be that of a bar serving a limited menu with proposed later hours and three (3) large screen televisions...

In any event, it looks as if Kaz is moving forward with beer and wine ... this reader photo from last week shows more than 20 taps (and there are apparently more not pictured)...



Cafecito closed at the end of January after 12 years in business. No word on an opening date for Kaz.

Tomorrow on Earth Day, you can (legally) ride a Citi Bike for free

Come ride with us on Aprill 22! #CarFreeNYC https://t.co/hGNcgRpmot pic.twitter.com/Zl4y1HnhJ7

— Citi Bike (@CitiBikeNYC) April 16, 2016

Find the details here.

Per Gothamist: "Signing up is simple and doesn't appear to have any strings attached: enter your email and name on Citi Bike's website (you can opt out of promotional mailings), and you'll be sent a code to redeem a 24-hour access pass that'll be valid at any of Citi Bike's stations..."

It's also an (optional) Car-Free Earth Day.

Are you missing your cat?

This kitty was found this afternoon on Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street... per the message we received:

Small gray tabby with a tiger stripe like coat and gorgeous fluffy tail. Estimated 1-2 years old. Very very sweet and friendly. Does not seem to be a stray. Please contact Fred Brown 646.387.0874 for more info ...

TBT — Purple Rain on Avenue A

From June 9, 2014... when Prince was featured on the roll-down gate at Mikey Likes It, 199 Avenue A near East 12th Street.

The mural, created by Bronx-based artist Andre Trenier, was in honor of the shop's Flavor of the Month: Purple Rain (double blueberry ice cream with cheesecake chunks).

And in case you haven't heard the news... Prince has died. He was 57.

Tim Burton-themed bar opening in former Confessional space on East 6th Street

As you may recall from last month, the owners of Stay Classy, the Will Ferrell-themed bar that opened last October on Rivington Street, announced plans to open another personality-driven establishment — this time in the East Village.

In the weeks ahead, Beetle House — "with an atmosphere and menu inspired by the works of Tim Burton" — is opening at 308 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The bar will feature drinks such as:

• Beetlejuice – Muddled blackberry and limes, Tequila, Blackberry schnapps, Angostura bitters, splash of cranberry. $14

• Edward’s lemonadee – Old fashioned with Orange bitters $12

• The headless horseman – Hendricks Gin, Lillet blanc, Cointreau, dash of absinthe, fresh lemon juice. Garnished with an orange peel. $16

• Chocolate factory martini – Vanilla vodka, Dorda chocolate liqueur, cream, creme de cocoa. Garnished with a chocolate bar. $14

You can check out the rest of the drinks and food menu at the Beetle House website. (You may text them for a preview invite.)

The space was, until last month, home to Confessional, who announced that they'd be moving to a new location. The space later hit the market for $8,500 a month plus $125,000 key money.

Thank you to Vinny & O for the tip! Time Out had a small write up of Beetle House this week, though the piece doesn't appear to be online.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: East Village to be home to a Tim Burton-themed bar

Converted East 8th Street synagogue (with hot tub for 8) returns to market for $30,000 a month

The last time we looked at 317 E. Eighth St., the former synagogue-turned-lux pad between Avenue B and Avenue C, the asking rent was a mere $25,000 a month.

Times have changed, and so has the asking rent. The furnished, four-level home is available again, though now the monthly ask is up to $30,000.

Here's part of the current listing at Town:

Spectacular townhouse ... that was formerly one of the city's last tenement Shuls ...was brilliantly transformed into a magnificent home in 2005 by world-famous designers from the Ian Shrager Hotels – earning recognition in Architectural Record for its extraordinary transformation, and attracting the likes of press, politicians and entertainment figures.

Yours to rent is the exquisite result of their top-of-the-line gut renovation: an immaculately-designed, 3 bedroom (possible 4), 2.5 bath fourplex that boasts 3 wonderful outdoor terraces, the finest finishes and fixtures, plus the most advanced automated central audio/visual, lighting, HVAC and integrated security systems.

The 4th story presents a special floor-to-ceiling glass hallway and secluded master bedroom with a custom-built working fireplace, huge walk-in closet, and opulent master bath with an oversized Jacuzzi tub, walk-in shower with steam unit, rain shower, waterfall and separate hand-held shower. Enjoy quiet time on the delightful terrace off the master with a hot tub for 8, or ascend the glass stairs to the top floor sun-drenched lounge/media room (possible 4th bedroom) and terrace that also has Ipe wood floors and planters, copper rainspouts, a custom sound system and security cameras. 3235 interior sf and 982 exterior sf. AVAILABLE FOR 2 MONTH LEASE TERM - FURNISHED ONLY. Live-in caretaker and housekeeper provided on-site in separate apartment.

The EVG reader who forwarded this listing wondered if this was the most expensive East Village rental... The most expensive one that we recall is #3C at 38 E. First St., which had been asking $35,000 in 2014. So the Eighth Street place seems like a bargain.

Tonight (Thursday) at MoRUS: 'Garbage Warrior,' a crusade for sustainable housing

As we've noted, The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) is hosting Movies @ MoRUS, a monthly film series exploring themes such as social justice and political reform.

Playing tonight:

• Thursday, April 21 — "Garbage Warrior," dir. Oliver Hodge, 2007, 86 min. In honor of Earth Day, "Garbage Warrior" follows U.S. architect Michael Reynolds and his mission to introduce radical sustainable housing to the masses.



Upcoming Movies @ MoRUS include:

• Thursday, May 19 — "Food Inc.," dir. Robert Kenner, 2008, 94 min. The documentary examines how big corporations influence all aspects of food production in the United States.

Movies @ Morus, which play the third Thursday of the month, are free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated. Showtime is 7 p.m. at MoRUS, 155 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.