Protection for pedestrians arrives at 75 1st Ave.

It appears that workers will be ready to kick the tires and light the fires again at 75 First Ave., where the site of an incoming condoplex has been dormant since January.

This past Friday, a crew finished erecting a more substantial sidewalk bridge here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street...



On Jan. 12, the city served up a full stop work order on the site. The DOB complaint noted "no protection for pedestrians."

Here's what the construction looked like at the time of the stop work order...



Sales had already commenced here in August 2017 for the 8-floor, 22-unit condoplex. The four units on the market are asking between $1.79 million and $2.25 million.



The foundation work dates back to October 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue

High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play

Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering

Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands

Plywood report and the future of 75 1st Ave. (Spoiler: condos)

Sales underway for Rite Aid-adjacent condoplex on 1st Avenue

Goodbye to Cucina Di Pesce

In case you missed the post from Friday afternoon... Cucina di Pesce, the unpretentious seafood-focused Italian restaurant on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, closed after service last evening.

Cucina Di Pesce had been open for 32 years, though the building was recently sold and the rent was increased.

This is how New York magazine described the place:

Cucina di Pesce is the type of unpretentious, comfortably lived-in Italian restaurant that ruled New York before Mario Batali and his ilk turned the town upside-down. But if Cucina's ambience feels a bit dated, its flavors are absolutely contemporary. This is one of the best places in the city to get good Italian food on a budget.

There were a lot of reader comments about this closure spread out over this site, Instagram and Facebook.

A quick sampling:

That neon sign, two blocks away from their window, was a nighttime touchstone for my kids when they were little. Fish!

And...

Very sad. This was one of the first restaurants I discovered when I moved to NYC 30 years ago.

And...

When it opened we little babies thought it the most expensive restaurant in the world. And that it was going to ruin the neighborhood! Then we discovered the free happy hour mussels and pasta. Kept many of us alive for most of the 90s. Very sad.

Meet Noodles unveiled at new-look 50 3rd Ave.

The plywood is down outside 50 Third Avenue ... providing a view of the new restaurant opening here this fall: Meet Noodles...


[Photo via EVG reader Laura]

This appears to be the second Meet Noodles, which also has an outpost on Eighth Avenue in Sunset Park.

Here's more about them via the Meet Noodles website:

Savory Chongqing noodle is called XiaoMian in Chinese, is a popular spicy and numbing noodle originated from Chongqing and popular in the whole country.

"Xiao Mian" in Chinese, which means "little noodles" in English. The term "Chongqing noodles" is typified by a variety of spicy noodle dishes that originated and exist in Chongqing, China, which are collectively referred to as xiao mian. Xiao mian is also prepared in other areas of the world, such as the United Kingdom and areas of Australia and the United States.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Meet Noodles-official (@meetnoodles) on Jul 13, 2018 at 7:34am PDT

50 Third Avenue was previously the Renew & Relax Spa.

H/T to EVG reader Laura!

Brick Lane Curry House is now open on 2nd Avenue

A few days after the big awning reveal... Brick Lane Curry House is now up and running at 79 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street... they relocated here last month from one block to the north.

Homeware brand Burkelman opening flagship store on the Bowery

Burkleman, a home and lifestyle brand currently based up in Cold Spring, is opening its flagship store at 332 Bowery between Bond and Great Jones later this fall.

The coming-soon signage arrived last Thursday.

Kevin Burke and David Kimelman started the high-end home-design shop in 2014 as an online-only business, before opening an outpost in a Cold Spring storefront in 2015. You can read more about them here.

The retail space was previously Intermix, who left the Bowery last fall after four-plus years at No. 332.

Cabin NYC unveiled on 4th Street

The exterior is shaping up over at 205 E. Fourth St., where signage for Cabin NYC arrived this past week here between Avenue A and Avenue B. (H/T EVG reader Alexis for the photo!)

Don't know too much about Cabin (not to be confused with Kabin or Cabin Down Below) just yet... but they are ready with a website and social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook). The same message is on all these properties: "Lower East Side's newest gem... COMING SOON!"

Back in May, CB3 voted to deny their liquor license "because the applicant would not agree to make as conditions the signed notarized stipulations," such as hours of operation, per the official minutes from that meeting.

Dorian Gray Tap & Grill closed here back in July after eight-plus years in business.

Sunday's parting shot

A look into Tompkins Square Park this afternoon via EVG reader Deryn Nannery...

Video remains

A scene in Tompkins Square Park today via Derek Berg...

Week in Grieview

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Questions and concerns as the sanitation department begins using 10th Street to park garbage trucks (Tuesday)

After 32 years on 4th Street, Cucina di Pesce will close after service on Sunday (Friday)

Remembering Hurricane Maria 1 year later (Thursday)

The East River Park Track appears to be back in action (Tuesday)

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction (Monday) ... Town Hall provides a few more details on the 24/7 construction at 14th and A (Tuesday)

Tuck Shop is closing after 13 years on 1st Street (Wednesday)

This week's NY See strip (Friday)

A flyer about protected bike lanes on 12th Street and 13th Street ahead of the L-train shutdown (Thursday)

'The Image Is a Seed' — Celebrating the work of Syeus Mottel on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

City Council committees vote down spot zoning for proposed hotel next to the Merchant's House (Thursday)

Report: Collision on 2nd Avenue at 9th Street leaves 69-year-old man in critical condition (Friday)

A look at the boutique office building replacing the St. Denis on 11th and Broadway (Tuesday)

Classic films at 7: Ciao for Now Presents 'Third Thursdays' this fall (Wednesday)

Here's your Marshalls signage on East Houston (Friday)

Sauce Pizzeria opens (Thursday)


[A moment on 5th Street via Derek Berg]

Brick Lane Curry House announces itself with fiery red awning at new 2nd Avenue location (Friday)

Whatever happened to... Sammy's Halal? (Monday)

Pumpkins spotting (Thursday)

Getting 511 E. 5th St. ready for new grilled pizza venture from Emmy Squared's owners (Monday)

Convicted felon Steve Croman featured on CNBC's 'American Greed' (Monday)

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This old house

Been meaning to note this recent feature at 6sqft (h/t Bayou!) written by Andrew Berman, the executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Berman takes us on a fun history lesson while searching for the oldest house in the West and East Village.

We'll cut right to the rather surprising answer — 44 Stuyvesant St. ... at 10th Street across from the St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery.



It was built in 1795 for Nicholas William Stuyvesant.

Per Berman:

The house has all the signature elements of a Federal-era (1790-1835) home, including a sloped roof, double dormers, and Flemish bond brickwork (bricks laid in alternating short and long configurations). There are a few more modern updates, including an artist’s studio window inserted in the early 20th century (more on that here) and a doorway of more recent vintage.

But while this house, unlike some of its competitors, does not have a fancy name or title attached to it, it is, in fact, the oldest house in the Village. But that’s not its only distinction; it’s also the oldest building in Manhattan still used as a residence. And it’s one of a very small number of 18th-century structures which survive in Manhattan – an exclusive list that includes Upper Manhattan’s Dyckman Farmhouse and Morris Jumel Mansion, both of which are now museums and no longer functioning residences.

Read the full article here.

Avenue A and 7th Street now during the Tompkins Square Greenmarket

Stannard Farm, a regular presence on Avenue A and Seventh Street on Sundays dating to 1998, abruptly pulled out of GrowNYC's Greenmarket program the week of Sept. 9.

For the past two Sundays, the prime corner space was being used for Greenmarket information...


[Photo by Steven from Sept. 16]

A Greenmarket rep said that they are waiting for confirmation on a new producer/vendor for that space.

You can find a list of the other Tompkins Square Greenmarket farmers here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Stannard Farm pulls out of the Greenmarket; 20-plus year veterans of Tompkins Square Park

Noted

The Post picked up on my garbage-trucks-on-10th-Street story... and with the classic headline: "This is why the East Village smells so disgusting."

They spoke with an upset neighbor:

“This is a neighborhood, not a city parking lot,” said outraged East Village condo owner, Michele Matthewman, 50. “I don’t pay the property tax I do to walk out my door to this putrid smell. It’s offensive.”

“We weren’t given any kind of heads up. Nothing,” griped Matthewman, who started a petition to get rid of the trucks that already has 100 signatures. “It’s insanity and it’s just not acceptable.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
Questions and concerns as the sanitation department begins using 10th Street to park garbage trucks

'Punk' talk tomorrow night at Cooper Union with Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain

Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain will read from and talk about their book "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk" tomorrow (Sunday!) night at Cooper Union.

It starts at 6 p.m. in Cooper Union’s Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square at Seventh Street. It's a free event, though the organizers are asking you to RSVP via email — please.kill.me.rsvp@gmail.com.

'Low' life

"Go Low" is the second single taken from the new Film School album "Bright To Death" out this fall.

After 32 years on 4th Street, Cucina di Pesce will close after service on Sunday

We've heard rumors in recent weeks that Cucina di Pesce, the unpretentious seafood-focused Italian restaurant on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, would be closing this month.

The owners made the official announcement today on Facebook:

It is with great regret that Cucina di Pesce will be closing its doors.

We would like to thank all of our customers for their support. It has been an honor to be part of the East Village community for the last 32 years, as we continue to keep close the memories and friendships established here.

A special acknowledgement to all our current and previous employees, as well as our friends at New York Theatre Workshop.

Our final day is this Sunday, September 23.

As we understand it, the building has a new owner, and there is a rent increase. (Public records show that an LLC bought the property for $6.8 million in a closing last month.)

Owner Mehenni Zebentout, who also has Nomad around the corner on Second Avenue, consolidated Cucina di Pesce — which was at 87-89 Fourth St. — in 2016 after the landlord next door asked $8,000 for the space.

EVG Etc.: Hearing for the Small Business Jobs Survival Act; $100K jewelry heist on the Bowery

[Photo on 2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

The Small Business Jobs Survival Act to get City Council hearing next month (Crain's)

For $155 a month, L train passengers can take an ultra-lux alternative that offers free WiFi and a breakfast bar (VICE)

There was a $100,000 jewel heist on the Bowery (The Lo-Down)

Praise for Mayanoki on Sixth Street (The New Yorker)

History of the Ottendorfer Branch of the New York Public Library on Second Avenue (Off the Grid)

Emmy Squared on First Avenue at Fifth Street now open for lunch on Fridays (Instagram)

New exhibitions at the Swiss Institute on Second Avenue and St. Mark's (Official site)

Joey Skaggs on pranks becoming art (Artsy)

Citi Bike looking for a larger storage space in Stuy Town (Town & Village)

Tamara Jenkins's first film in a decade stars Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti as an aging couple living in the East Village who are desperate for a child. The dramedy screens as part of the Main Slate section of the 56th New York Film Festival on Oct. 1 and 3. (Official site) And the trailer...

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's this week's NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival brings 100-plus activities to community gardens this weekend

The 7th Annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival is coming to a community garden near you this weekend.

More than 100 free events are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday in 50-plus gardens in the East Village and on the Lower East Side.

There are too many performances, concerts, screenings, beekeeping demos and other related events to list individually.

So you can find the full lineup here for Saturday and here for Sunday.

Related reading:
How the East Village grew to have the most community gardens in the country (6sqft)

Report: Collision on 2nd Avenue at 9th Street leaves 69-year-old man in critical condition

Driver hits 69-year-old man who was crossing East Village street, leaving him in critical condition https://t.co/nDgOneJqow pic.twitter.com/vzhxSpynfz

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 21, 2018

There were several reader reports last night about a car striking a pedestrian last evening on Second Avenue and Ninth Street.

According to the Daily News, a 69-year-old man was crossing west on Second Avenue when a Honda Accord making a left turn from Ninth Street struck the pedestrian around 8 p.m.

Per the News:

A bicyclist riding down Second Ave. said the driver had the green light but was turning too fast to stop for the victim who was in the crosswalk.

The victim was taken to Bellevue and is reportedly in critical condition.

No charges were immediately filed against the 35-year-old motorist, according to the News.

Brick Lane Curry House announces itself with fiery red awning at new 2nd Avenue location

Work continues at 79 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, where the new location of Brick Lane Curry House will be opening later this fall.

The new awning just arrived, looking as hot as its phaal dish. As Eater noted, the British-style curry is made with tomato, ginger and at least 10-12 ground whole chillies. (Eat it and get into the Phaal Hall of Fame.)

The restaurant left its space one block to the north at the end of August.

As previously noted, this marks Brick Lane's third East Village location. They moved from Sixth Street to 99 Second Ave. in August 2014.

Calexico, which serves Cal-Mex food in several NYC locations, is expected to open an outpost at 99 Second Ave.

Thanks to Lola Sáenz for the photo!

Previously on EV Grieve:
On 2nd Avenue, Calexico in the works with Brick Lane Curry House on the move

Brick Lane Curry House closes ahead of move down the block