DOH temporarily closes Happy Wok on Avenue C

Over here on Avenue C near East 11th Street...

... there's an "in construction" sign up on the Happy Wok...

... A tipster notes that the DOH temporarily closed the restaurant after inspectors found 86 violation points ... including for:
• Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
• Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.

The city inspected Happy Wok last on May, and they found just 11 violation points... down from 110 violation points last August, when they were also briefly closed ... (Violations included "Duties of an officer of the Department interfered with or obstructed.")

'They're here' tonight in Tompkins Square Park; plus 'Poltergeist'

The Films in Tompkins series continues tonight with "Poltergeist," plus a pre-movie music set by Timbila.

Per Wikipedia, our go-to source for 1980s horror films:

Poltergeist is a 1982 American horror film, directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the first and most successful film of the Poltergeist film trilogy. Set in a California suburb, the plot focuses on a family whose home is invaded by malevolent ghosts that abduct the family's youngest daughter.

And, next Thursday marks the end of the series:

Aug. 23 — (rescheduled from July 26) Goldfinger, Music by The Luddites

Free. Gates Open at 6 p.m. Music Starts ½ Hour before the Start of the Film (sundown). Dates subject to Rain Delays.

This is what a parking lot on East 14th Street looked like on Aug. 13, 2012

This year, we'll post photos like this of various buildings, streetscenes, etc., to capture them as they looked at this time and place... The photos may not be the most telling now, but they likely will be one day...

Painting it black at the B Bar

Last week, we noticed that someone had painted over the mural on the side of early 1990s Bowery gentrifier B Bar at East Fourth Street...

Before!

[January 2012]

Last weekend!

We didn't hear back from a B Bar rep... we had some questions about what would replace the mural and all that...we figured it had something to do with the possible sale of the adjacent building that the wall belongs to...

Meanwhile, a reader noted that this ad for "The Voice" is now in place on part of the wall...

Wet-tailed hawk atop St. Brigid's

Between rain showers this afternoon, Bobby Williams saw a red-tailed hawk flying out of Tompkins Square Park... Bobby then spotted the hawk atop the scaffolding at St. Brigid's on Avenue B at East Eighth Street...

Norman's Sound & Vision has closed

Back in May, our friend Alex at Flaming Pablum first reported the news that Norman's Sound & Vision was closing and moving to Williamsburg ... the Brooklyn location is open, and the Cooper Square storefront is for rent...

Anyway, a few weeks ago, a clerk told us the last day here was Aug. 16 ... so we stopped by this evening for one last look. Maybe pick up a few .50 records... but we found that the place had already been cleaned out...

The new Brooklyn location is at 555 Metropolitan Ave. between Lorimer and Union ...

When it rains ...

... we post photos of clouds on the horizon...

[Bobby Williams]

Updated: First listings appear for 315 E. 10th St., now a 'HOT elevator building'

[From late July, by Bobby Williams]

Well, you know the story of the circa-1847 building at 315 E. 10th St. that faces Tompkins Square Park. As you'll recall, the city OK'd a one-floor rooftop addition here in January hours before the Landmarks Preservation Committee approved the East 10th Street Historic District.

Last December, Ben Shaoul's Magnum Real Estate Group bought the building from The Educational Alliance. Renovations converted the building into residential use.

And yesterday, the first of the listings hit the market... According to Streeteasy:

This all new, fully gut renovated three bed has something for everyone... Three equal sized bedrooms that are queen sized +, a gleaming white extra large bathroom, laundry in unit, high end kitchen with dark ebony cabinets, stainless appliances w/ dishwasher and microwave and quartz counter tops, a large living/dining combo. If you want to catch some skyline views or rays take the elevator up to the shared roof deck and check out 360' unobstructed views of the city. You really will have it all here.

The price to have it all these days: $4,895

Let's take a look...

Meanwhile, earlier this morning, a tipster sent us a screengrab of the listing at MDNY...

Updated:

Oh, there's another listing... Per Streeteasy: "Four equal sized bedrooms that are queen sized +, two gleaming white extra large bathrooms, laundry in unit, high end kitchen with dark ebony cabinets, stainless appliances w/ dishwasher and microwave and quartz counter tops, a large living/dining combo and a HUGE private rear patio."

Price: $6,500

Here's a look...

Previously on EV Grieve:
A bid to protect the integrity of 315 E. 10th St.

Landmarks Preservation Commission expedites hearing on East 10th Street Historic District

Workers quickly start dismantling roof of historic 315 E. 10th St.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

[The beloved Gulf gas pumps at the new BP station on Second Avenue]

Ben Shaoul now buying up Ludlow Street (The Lo-Down)

At Mott and Houston: "FUCK YOU BLOODSUCKERS WE WANT A BODEGA BACK" (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Video (graphic) of the dog shooting on East 14th Street (Gothamist)

Bar Veloce won't let Handsome Dick Manitoba's son use its restroom (MANIBLOG)

David Bowie on the streets (Flaming Pablum)

So long tenants: More rich people want buildings for their own single-family mansions (The Wall Street Journal)

More seafood for the LES (BoweryBoogie)

Update on 3 incoming Coney Island Boardwalk businesses (Amusing the Zillion)

...and as we first reported back in June, Tahini closed for good on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place... on Monday, workers stripped away the exterior...

Updated: Oh. That was fast. A tipster says that the location is now a pizza place... maybe something like the former St. Mark's Pizza?

And here it is... let us know if you try it...

Concern for 32 Avenue C

The southeast corner of Avenue C and East Third Street (aka 32 Avenue C) has been on my endangered list for some time... in March, when I took the photos below, the sidewalk bridge arrived along with a scary DOB message: "THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING IS CAVING IN; COMMERCIAL BUILDING; BUILDING NEEDS TO BE VACATED"

Yesterday, the city hit the building with a full vacate order... EVG reader Bobby L., and a neighbor of No. 32, said that the city made everyone here leave ("thrown out" was his term) yesterday morning at 10... a group that included the upstairs tenants, the East Village Deli and the Perfection Barber Shop...

... among other things, this vacate order means the closure of Maria's, the tiny streetside stand with delicious, inexpensive food and homemade signs...

[Via]

A neighborhood place for neighborhood people not interested in standing in line for heritage pork and craft beer at buzzy places ...

[EVG reader Andrew]

[EVG reader Andrew]

I'd be surprised to think that the landlord (listed at the DOB as "Fairfax Management Corp.") would pay for any extensive repairs here ... the land is far too valuable to allow for neighborhood places like this to exist... Still, no official word from the city, just, as the sign says, "reentry is prohibited until such conditions have been eliminated to the satisfaction of the department."

[Google]

Thanks to EVG reader Andrew for passing along the tip that the city had issued the vacate orders...

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.

By James Maher

Name: Madeleine Von Froomer
Occupation: Artist, Fashion Consultant
Location: 2rd Street between Avenue A and B
Time: 4:34 on Monday, August 14

I've lived in this neighborhood for 5 years. There's still an old neighborhood family feel here, although I’m probably one of the people who moved in 5 years ago and everyone said, 'Oh god, there goes the neighborhood.' I was living in Chinatown ... I worked around here and then I found out how amazing the neighborhood is. Everything I need is right here: there's the health food store and Gracefully is 24 hours. I love my Laundromat right here, Klean and Kleaner. It’s an amazing Laundromat.

I heard Mama’s was closing. I LOVED Mama’s. They had the best fried chicken in the world. I’m from New Orleans and their Fried Chicken was the best that I’ve ever had.

I’m in a big transition period right now. I’ve been working in fashion design for the last eight years in New York, but I’m recently getting more into the arts, so I’ve been painting a lot this summer and I had a sculpture in a show in LA at the beginning of the summer. Now I’m doing more freelance fashion consulting instead of committing to a full-time fashion job. I became really sick of it; I'm never having a real job again. I'll have jobs, but I'm not going to have a job ever again. And my life has gotten a lot better since then. I want to enjoy my life; it's more important than stability — apparently.

I live in a studio right here. I love my apartment but I don't have enough room to paint, which is the real issue. I used to have studio space at the Bullet Space, on 3rd street between C and D. It’s a great art space and they have shows there.

In my building, there's this very lovely gay couple, who introduce themselves to me every time I see them ever since I moved here. They never remember that they've met me before. Usually they're happy and outgoing and it took me awhile to understand that they were drunk all the time, or something, cause they were always falling over and introducing themselves to me.

Then there’s my other neighbor. Once in a blue moon I see her running around. She's very secretive, but once I saw in through the crack in her door and it looked like the apartment was knee-deep in newspapers and stuff. Then one day these guys came in these white 'Andromeda Strain' suits. It was like an episode of 'Hoarders.' They had to come and totally redo her apartment.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

Angelina Cafe has closed ... for now

Back in May, we first reported that Angelina Cafe on Avenue A near East Third Street will be moving across the street later in the summer to 37 Avenue A... the long-empty space that was previously home to the Two Boots Restaurant.

Meanwhile, workers have cleared out the Cafe space at No. 36 ... it was empty when we went by last night...

...which all may have to do with the Eviction Notice that appeared on the Cafe's front door last week...stating that the neighborhood eatery had to be out today...

We understand there are some move-related issues involving a testy landlord...

Meanwhile, the space across the Avenue is shaping up nicely...

We hope to have an opening date for you soon...

Ariel Palitz responds to Daily News article, 'ripe for picking' comment

As you may recall, the Daily News reported last Thursday that the East Village — specifically East Houston and southern parts of First Avenue — were destined to become some kind of MePaSoho Deluxe Hybrid that would blow up the nightlife world as we knew it.

Or something.

The article included a quote from Ariel Palitz, who is currently trying to sell her club, the Sutra Lounge on First Avenue ... she is also a member of the Community Board 3's Liquor Authority & Department of Consumer Affairs Licensing committee.

Here's the quote that riled up some readers in the comments:

"The East Village is ripe for the picking right now. There's an opportunity to change the culture and the makeup of the neighborhood from the underground nightlife experience to a high-end clientele."

Yesterday, Palitz responded in the comments:

I know that many of my adversaries will find this impossible to believe but I was grossly misquoted and misinterpreted in the Daily News piece. Anyone who knows me and my mission knows that for over 15 years I have been devoted to New York preservation and have fought to keep the integrity of the Nightlife scene. I would NEVER say that East Village is ripe for the picking for an elite meatpacking scene, even though that scenario it is plausible that it will happen, it is not my mission. What I DID say was that because of the widespread closing of venues in the East Village that it was time for a Renaissance, an end of an era for many venues that have been open for many years and that it would inevitably change the existing culture here. I don't know how or why my words were twisted, and I do know that anything I say will always be used against me due to my pro nightlife stance. I usually don't defend myself against such things but this is way out of bounds from my beliefs and from what I said and I felt clarification was in order. Believe it or not.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Envisioning a new-look First Avenue nightlife scene

[Photo of Palitz via Blackbook]

Ninth Street, meet your new neighbor

On Friday, we reported that a six-story building housing two residences was in the works for 327 E. Ninth St., currently a parking lot between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Yesterday, a tipster passed along the renderings for the new building to Curbed...

The new building will feature a garage and elevator, among other amenities...

Thoughts?

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building

'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' filming on East 14th Street today...

... on both sides on the street between Third Avenue and Second Avenue... right near where the NYPD shot a dog on Monday afternoon.

Exchange Alley latest restaurant to give 424 E. Ninth St. a go

[Image via Gothamist]

In the past few years, 424 E. Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue has proven to be tough sell for restaurants, where we've seen Olivia, Sintir and Zi' Pep close in fairly quick succession ...

The New Orleans-themed Exchange Alley will give it a go starting tonight ... chef Paul Gerard, a Brooklyn native who spent his salad days in New Orleans, has spent time at Sweetwater in Williamsburg ... and more recently at Soho House and the Soho Grand Hotel... His partner is Billy Gilroy, founder of Employees Only, the "it-speakeasy," according to one account of the place... You can read more about Exchange Alley at Grub Street ... Gothamist ... and Vogue ... their menu is here.

Busy day today in Tompkins Square Park

Busy day, as these photos from Bobby Williams show... there was live music... as well as the Prayer Station via the Sacred Life Ministries ...

There was a video/commercial shoot featuring actor Dean Winters from "30 Rock" and "Rescue Me" ... (Was this for The Heroes Project?)

...and a traveler/crusty needed some medical attention...

DOH temporarily closes Plump Dumpling on Second Avenue

[EVG reader AC]

The DOH apparently paid a visit today here on Second Avenue at 11th Street... inspectors haven't posted the report online just yet... we'll check back later...