Heartbreak closed for good

Last week we heard the news that Heartbreak Cafe on Second Avenue at Second Street had closed for renovations. Diner's Journal reported this morning that the German-Swiss restaurant has closed for good. [Via Grub Street]

Flashback to this corner on Oct. 12, 2009 ... during construction...

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

[13th Street the other morning]

Fighting to save the Bowery (The New York Times)

At Bob Arihood's memorial on Saturday (The Gog Log)

More on the fire on East 10th Street yesterday (Eater)

Slum Goddess at Occupy Wall Street (Slum Goddess)

The Landmarks Preservation Committee (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Calvin Trillin at the Tenement Museum (BoweryBoogie)

The photography of Vivian Maier (Ephemeral New York)

RIP Grand Street News (The Lo-Down)

And thank you to everyone who sent along photos from the skywriting yesterday... didn't get a chance to post them... had a few of my own too...

As you likely heard by now ... what it was all about, via the Daily News...

Cryptic messages written in the sky over lower Manhattan — part of a kooky art project — mystified and unnerved New Yorkers Sunday afternoon.

Just after 4 p.m. a plane wrote the words "Last Chance" in the air. The message was preceded by"Lost Our Lease" and followed by "Now Open."

The skywriting turned out to be sponsored by Friends of the High Line, the non-profit behind the wildly popular elevated park.

Artist Kim Beck, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh who lives part time in New York, chose messages from advertising billboards as cryptic comments on the faltering economy.

Are you Puddin' me on?: The latest dessert shop for the East Village

Wow. Last month, we pointed out signage for a new dessert place opening at 102 St. Mark's Place ... next door to Jane's Sweet Buns.

Thanks to EV Grieve reader Allen Semanco for the following photo that provides more detail on the type of dessert...

What's the over/under on a liquor license request? Think of the possibilities! Puddin' Bombs with a shot of Bailey's and Jameson ... Kidding! But...

Bad news for Joe's Bar

On Friday night, we walked by Joe's Bar, one of our favorite places, and the bar on East Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue A was closed...

The last time that we noticed Joe's was closed (in July) ... it turned out to be a false alarm... this time, though — the DOH temporarily closed them last week. The DOH hit them with 71 violation points. Some of them seemingly rinky-dink. ("Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.")

But. A well-placed tipster says that Joe's has been on a month-to-month lease ... worse, Joe's health may be an issue... The tipster thinks the bar might be done for now.

Extra:
Marty After Dark paid a visit to Joe's back in May.

Even an empty 34 Avenue A is upsetting neighbors

34 Avenue A has been focal point for criticism since Aces & Eights opened in the spring of 2009... Then, of course, came the drama with the various restaurant-bar-performance space proposals... In August, "for rent" signs went up here.

On Saturday morning, Dave on 7th spotted the following Urban Etiquette Sign outside 34 Avenue A... (EV Grieve reader Matt also sent us photos ...)

So what's going on? Debra Stelnik, a broker for Coldwell Banker, told me this weekend via email that the space is still for lease.

If the noise came from the tenants upstairs, then you'd think the sign leaver would have placed the note to the left on their entrance... Theories? Ideas?

In any event, here is the rental info for the main floor and basement...

NYPD warning flyers now more realistic with the addition of swear words!

Spotted on Second Avenue at Seventh Street...

Think of the children!

Updated: A commenter notes the "limited to department circulation" line at the bottom right. Oops!

The Post discovers 2 Bros. Pizza on St. Mark's Place; and what eatery generates more litter?

Odd little story in the Post yesterday.

Two new $1 pizza joints on St. Mark’s Place are fueling a greasy scourge on the dense East Village street, according to fed-up locals.

Drunken patrons of twin 2 Bros. Pizza places have left a sad trail of paper plates, crusts and soda cans across sidewalks and stoops in the last year, disgusted residents said.

OK. It can be messy out front of the two 2 Bros. So why an odd story? Well, because the first 2 Bros. Pizza opened here in 2008. Not really new. The second 2 Bros. opened a few doors away in January.

And I'd argue that 16 Handles generates more litter ... at least in front of St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery...



More on this here. ... and here ...

Upon further review, there are actually two three-floor-tall IHOP signs on East 14th Street

Last Monday, we took photos of the three-floor high IHOP sign going up on the east side of the IHOPlex... Lordy, we never noticed that one went up on the west side as well...

and now, dueling three-floor IHOP signs...

The 4th Street Food Co-op reopens today

Our friend Jill Woodward at the The 4th Street Food Co-op passes along word that they will reopen today... "We have a new floor, the interior is freshly painted, and there are other improvements — plus more in the works," she says. "We hope our shoppers will be as thrilled as we are."

The co-op closed in late September for renovations.

New Tofu House sign helps set St. Mark's Place signage record

Back on Aug. 1, we pointed out that the NY Tofu House was the latest eatery to give the former Mondo Kim's space a whirl on St. Mark's Place... And the tofuers have added signage...

One more sign here and workers will need to reinforce the structure.

Cowgirl's Baking has closed

We noticed that they hadn't been open lately here on East 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A ... Turns out that the vegan bakery-eatery closed after Sept. 27. They opened in March.

We sent them an email during the weekend to find out more. This is from one of their last tweets:

Anyone have more information about the closing?

Boston-based menswear brand taking over an Extra Place retail space

Over here on East First Street at Extra Place, a designer is taking over one of the spaces...

It's Scott James ... per the company website, it's a Boston-based menswear brand ... "that encompasses both the sophisticated, casual look of the Italian man along with the playful, color-rich attitude of the American consumer. It is the American approach to Anglo Italian. Rooted in color, texture, and pattern, scott james is a luxury clothing line without the luxury pricing."

And more!

In seeking to please the “artists of living" for whom we build the collection, we are always inspired when we encounter materials of supreme quality. Our school of thought is, “Why not wear cashmere year-round" ...

Anyway, this store takes over from the Tashkent by Cheyenne showroom that closed in the spring...

Over the rainbow, of course

Today in Tompkins Square Park. Photo by Bobby Williams.

Fire tonight at Il Cantinori on East 10th Street

Our inbox is full of photos and tips about a fire tonight on East 10th Street ... Several people thought the fire was around Third Avenue or Fourth Avenue... Here's a photo of the smoke from EV Grieve reader @meganlquesada in Williamsburg...

Turns out the fire broke out at Il Cantinori at 32 E. 10th St. between Broadway and University...

[Via @AlexMLeo]

We don't have much more information now than what is on Twitter...

Today in motorcycle rallies on the Bowery

Photos by Bobby Williams. Party was at Bowery Electric. BoweryBoogie has more on the annual Hells Angels Biker Bash here.

More on last night's falling window lintel on East 10th Street

We have more information about last night's near-miss accident on East 10th Street near Avenue B. Michael Sean Edwards was on the scene... He tells us that it was just after midnight when a third-floor window lintel fell to the sidewalk from 341 E. 10th St.

Per Michael:

"The main piece narrowly missed a young woman on the sidewalk. Considering the number of people on the sidewalk in front of and around the Blind Barber Bar, it is very fortunate that no one was injured. The police were on the scene and quickly taped off the area. The fire department responded, followed shortly by the Building Dept.

The area is now cordoned off and under police surveillance until the landlord erects a sidewalk shed and repairs the brickwork, which is visibly in pretty bad shape."

And here are his photos...

Previously.

Week in Grieview

Chico's tribute to Bob Arihood (Thursday)

Under St. Mark's saved (Friday)

Why the Nutmobile was in the neighborhood (Monday)

IHOP unveils a huge sign (Monday)

A look inside John Legend's pad (Tuesday)

Yarning and de-yarning the Alamo (Monday)

The landlord who held Time Warner hostage (Tuesday)

Orphaned baby squirrel alert (Thursday)

A discussion on Chinese delivery (Friday)

An NYPD alert in East Third Street (Tuesday)

A near miss with a falling window mantel on East 10th Street

Earlier this morning (around 1 a.m.?), several readers noted falling debris on East 10th Street just west of Avenue B...

[Photo by @CelineNYC]

Per @mattheworley: "A mantle just fell off a 3rd floor window above Blind Barber, almost falling on the line to get in. 1000 firemen outside my apt now."

We didn't hear of any injuries. This morning, EV Grieve reader Ted Roden's photos give us an idea of what happened... you can see the damage to the DSA Management awning...

Here's another shot from @rviloria ...

'De Flea' Arts & Crafts Market returns this afternoon

From the EV Grieve inbox...from our friend Our Lady of Perpetual PMS...

After a July-August summer hiatus, this artist-run, monthly arts flea market returns to the East Village! The "De Flea" Market benefits a different animal rescue group each month! We'll be raffling off a ton of great prizes and 100% of the raffle proceeds go to our guest charity.

This month our guests will be WAGGY TAIL RESCUE. Shop cheap jewelry, vintage clothes, kitsch-punk accesories/crafts & more. Handmade artwork from local artists & personalities such as Lynn Von (Da Willys, Vondells), Cid Scantleberry, Our Lady of Pertual PMS & more.

A laid-back good time in the tradition of East Village activism, infused with rock and roll spirit, for a good cause! Held in a spacious back room where DJ Chandler provides the music, & Ms. Chloe provides the libations in the front bar. 2 for 1 happy hour specials if you wish to indulge.

Held once per month on the second Sunday!

Occupy Wall Street at Washington Square Park today

Bobby Williams was there....