Three hopeful signs on the Bowery

Things we've seen of late on the Bowery that don't have to do with new restaurants or hotels or condos...

The return of the Squeegee Men to Bleecker and the Bowery...




...the ol' middle finger-do-not-cross gag...



...the signs on lower Bowery asking people not to pee in the doorway ....




(A related sign on BoweryBoogie)

Hidden documents expose sidewalk troubles on First Avenue

While walking by 147 First Ave. the other day at Ninth Street., which may or may not be destroyed ... or turned into a motel.... I noticed some important-looking documents stuffed to the side of the front door... looked as if they'd been there for a few days. So. Naturally. I took a peek.

Well! Apparently the sidewalk along here needs some work.



So says the city, anyway...








Anyway, all sorts of letters and charts and stuff to say that the sidewalk needs to be fixed... or the owners (Midon Realty) will have to pay the city for doing it for them...which could be $10 or $13 a square foot....

Previously on EV Grieve:
Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Cosmic Cantina coming apart

As we reported, Cosmic Cantina closed up its Third Avenue home this past Sunday... (Monday if you count the freebie night)...

And now, workers are busy dismantling the Mexican eatery...



No chips inside...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Cosmic Cantina is closing

Shepard Fairey has his holes filled

This morning, BoweryBoogie noted the epic new holes that someone punched into Shepard Fairey's mural on Houston and the Bowery...

...and just like that, the holes have been filled...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Historic bombing on the Shepard Fairey mural

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Helping to preserve Ray's (The Villager)

Jeremiah gives up the Nighthawks search (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

David Freeland’s New York (Patell and Waterman’s History of New York)

206 Bowery going down? (BoweryBoogie)

El Sol Brillante fund-raiser Saturday (Blah Blog Blah)

Chloë Sevigny models stuff (Racked)

There is no end to the million-dollar homes on the market now in the East Village

Yeppers, this two bedroomer in EV view killer One Ten Third Avenue (Jeremiah has a history of this block here) JUST went on the market... Per the listing:

The lovely residence has an expansive living & dining area with a built-in media system, custom window treatments and there are spacious California closets throughout. The loft-style open kitchen has volcanic Balsitina stone countertops, a Thermador oven & cook top, Veneto glass tile back splash, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher & Jenn-air microwave & convection oven. The Master bedroom boasts a walk-in California closet and en-suite luxurious limestone master bath with double sinks & Wenge wood cabinets, a Kohler soaking tub and separate seamless glass shower. Throughout the apartment you will find airy white oak floors, a 4 zone central air & heat system & it also includes a Bosch washer/dryer. As a dazzling (almost) new condo where the East Village meets Union Square, this full service building features a common roof deck, a fully-equipped fitness center, refrigerated storage, & illuminated contemplation garden.

It originally sold in October 2007 for $1.279 million. It's now going for $1.42 million. Something to contemplate in the garden.

"Watch moon rises, storms on the horizon" from this Third Avenue penthouse

Or, if $1.4 million is a little too much for you, consider this 520-square-foot penthouse studio across the street at 111 Third Ave.

And, as usual, we start with the listing:

Spacious Penthouse Studio with open eastern views over East Village all the way to the river and the bridges. Watch moon rises, storms on the horizon, everything. Magnificent view. Kitchen and bathroom are brand new, mint renovations with classic modern styling. Kitchen has stainless steel appliances including a dishwasher and slim profile refrigerator, and black and stainless gas range. Kitchen opens wide to alcove and view. This studio has a separate entry foyer where one can easily create a gallery, library or home office. The closet space is tremendous. The former dressing room is now incorporated into the sleek bathroom creating a sumptuous windowed bathroom. The building has a beautifully landscaped common roofdeck which one accesses right down the hall from this apartment. It would serve as your own patio! Perfect for entertaining. This is a condop building with most buying scenarios possible including parental assistance and pied-a-terres. DEBUT OPEN HOUSE: Sun Jun 13 2010 1:30-3P

So, let's check out the loo...



counter space and fridge...




...the laundry room...



...and views...




Aside from moons and storms, looks as if you get views of ConEd and NYU too.

Asking price: $519,000.

We'll always have Craigslist: Parting the curtains at Buffalo Exchange

Like most things too good to be true on Craigslist, this NC-17 ad is a probably fake, but...

Buffalo exchange - m4w (East Village)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2010-06-09, 6:25PM EDT

We were across the aisle from each other in the dressing room. After a few minutes I realized my curtain was cracked and you could see all of me. First I was embarrassed and then I noticed that you had opened your curtain so I could see you too. I wanted nothing more than to sneak into your dressing room and eat your pussy until you came again and again. I can't get that beautiful image of you out of my head!

You were wearing a skirt and black/gray backpack and. Sadly, I missed you when you left. I would love to see you again! xoxo

Well... that's so sweet. I hope this has a happy ending. Maybe this can become another Subway Girl of His Dreams. Hmmm.... The Buffalo Exchange Dressing Room Woman of My Dreams With Whom I'd Like to Perform Oral Sex On... OK, this needs some work...

Remembering Walid Menswear

Walid Menswear went out of business on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue last month... As noted, I always liked that Walid sign...




Paul Dougherty, a long-time video maker, sent along this film that he made about Walid back in January... it's titled "Before Old-School" ...

Legislation to protect loft tenants permanently passes Senate

Per the news release distributed late yesterday afternoon...

Legislation sponsored by Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (D-Brooklyn) passed in the Senate extending basic protections to those calling commercial loft space home.

S.7178A, amends the “Loft Law,” ensuring that residential lofts will be brought into compliance with laws regarding housing maintenance, health, safety and fire protection standards. This legislation marks the second time in 28 years that the legislature has extended loft tenant protections. Senator Dilan’s bill would make permanent loft tenant protections to buildings containing two or more units.

“Thousands of people living in the city call these lofts home. Many of these units have escaped most of the tenant protections offered to traditional rentals. This legislation will bring these properties up to code, protecting tenants and landlords’ investments,” said Senator Dilan.

The bill has passed both houses and awaits Gov. Paterson's approval.

[And apologies for that photo]

Report: L.E.S. Jewels sentenced to 10 days in jail (Updated: Or not)

Back in April, Bob Arihood reported that Joel Pakela, a.k.a., L.E.S Jewels, had been arrested and charged for assault... and resisting arrest. This week's issue of The Villager reports that Jewels was sentenced to 10 days in jail on June 1.

Update: According to the Department of Correction website, L.E.S. Jewels is scheduled for release on Oct. 20. He is currently in the Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC) at Rikers.

[Photo via Slum Goddess]

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Goggla tours the East Village community gardens (The Gog Log)

Jeremiah continues the hunt for Hopper's Nighthawks (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Alex is looking for some old photos (Flaming Pablum)

Boogie checks in on the new eatery destined for Bowery and Stanton (BoweryBoogie)

Eden follows the signs (Slum Goddess)

Karate Boogaloo has a reminder about the the fundraising sale at the Archive of Contemporary Music (Stupefaction)

And I like the new Mars Bar art...

Remembering Finest Pizza's wounded pizza mascot

Every so often I do that feature titled Posts That I Never Got Around to Posting (such as this one!)... usually an item that I found of interest, but never pursued. Or forgot about. I found the following in my drafts folder... this one becomes timely given the closure this week of the Finest Pizza and Deli on Avenue B...

You recall their (generic) pizza mascot...



As a reader passed along in the spring, a vandal ripped of his right arm....



...and discarded it a short distance away...



But! Abdul and company were able to reattach it...




I wonder what will happen to our wounded pizza man now that the store is closed?

Updated: Fire on Second Avenue

Per EV Grieve reader evilsugar25~ from last night:

Fire at 122 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Marks. Stomp theater (the Orpheum) evacuated, broken glass in the front windows of the Ukrainian Sports Club at122 ... at least eight fire trucks and cops galore. Crowds on the street. A different kind of NYC excitement.

EV Grieve reader RatherBeBiking took these shots a little bit later... (via his Flickr account)




Don't know the extent of the damage just yet... Anyone else have information?

[Updated] EV Grieve reader Fairfax Wright shared more photos:





You can find them via Flickr too.

Buckets of beer at the Neptune

You know, it has been a long time since I've eaten at the Neptune on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street ... Too long! So I headed that way for a meal...



...and I was surprised to see this sign in the window...



A bucket of beers for $15? Wake up after 5? Seems awfully, say, Village Pourhouse-y for the Neptune... I suppose this is the reality for places such as the Neptune to compete with so many fratty bars around... they are reduced to this.

Even Porta-Potties get makeovers on the Bowery these days

Yesterday, BoweryBoogie and Curbed checked in on the progress at 257 Bowery, home of the new Sperone Westwater Gallery...



Meanwhile, to the important story here. I've been keeping tabs on the Call-A-Head for the construction workers at street level ... Even by Porta-Potty standards, this one was pretty sub-standard... But! Like many things on the Bowery of late, it had been converted.



...with the potential for a breeze...




And I finally got a look inside the space the other evening...




Not sure how much the owners are paying a square foot, but I do like what they have done with the limited space...