Looking for the old Bon Vivant space

Last July, I noted that Bon Vivant, the usually reliable Greek diner on Broadway near 12th Street, had closed after several decades in business.



Eater later reported that the owners would reopen ... but "lose its diner atmosphere, have a new name, and focus on 'organic foods.'"

So I thought I'd check up on the new space. I couldn't find it at first. Been some time since I've been right on this stretch of Broadway. That Quiznos Subs on East 12th Street and Broadway with the erotic ads closed late last summer... and here's its replacement... Cafe Reunion! (Update: Per the comments ... it already came and went)

Meanwhile, as for the Bon Vivant space, I didn't spot it right away... everything looks the same here now. It's all so sterile... a spa!

Finally...

Dog days of spring

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Earlier today in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Bobby Williams.

The true meaning of Easter

East Sixth Street, 12:41 p.m., April 24 (Easter)

At the Mars Bar Friday afternoon

All photos by John Marshall Mantel. Find more shots at his photo blog...

As for Mars Bar, there's an art show opening there this afternoon... and an Easter BBQ.

NYPD responds to an alleged shoplifter

Just after 9 this morning, the NYPD swarmed around an alleged shoplifter on 14th Street and First Avenue... a witness thought the apparent theft occurred at the CVS... in total, there were nine officers on the scene...

NYPD responds to reports of a beating on 10th Street and Avenue B

Last night around 11, there were reports of a man being beaten by a group of up to 10 young males on 10th Street at Avenue B. Bob Arihood took the above photo in Tompkins Square Park of the young men being detained by police (their faces have been blurred). They were held for 20 minutes or so then released. (Police left with the victim.) As Bob noted, it wasn't clear whether the pictured males were released because they were clearly innocent or because no one was pressing charges.

A message from the Lower East Side about underage drinking

You may have been read about the 7th Precinct’s crackdown on Lower East Side bars and clubs to curb underage drinking, late night noise and overcrowding. (The Lo-Down has covered the topic extensively.)

EV Grieve contributor samo notes this signage on Houston at Ludlow Street....

Easter (early-morning edition)

[photo by Blue Glass]

Found: Adorable kitty

Earlier today, a couple found this kitten on Seventh Street near Avenue D. Per the reader: "She's surprisingly clean for a street cat, which is why I'm wondering if she just escaped."

For more info on the lost kitten: Thatguy510(at)gmail.com

A star on Avenue A

EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams points us to a scene earlier this evening on Avenue A near 10th Street... where a crowd had gathered...

...to observe the red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square....

Arcane closed for the weekend on Avenue C

Benefit for Emilie Louise Gossiaux today at Cooper Union

Last Oct. 8, Emilie Louise Gossiaux, a student at Cooper Union, was struck by an 18-wheeler while riding her bike in Brooklyn. In addition to stroke, traumatic brain injury and resuscitated cardiac arrest, she suffered multiple fractures in her head, pelvis, and left leg. She emerged from the ER in severely critical condition with a pessimistic assessment of her brain function. A “grim” prognosis was made of her chance for survival.

You can read more about her tragic story here.
Emilie is currently in a neurorehabilitation program at the Rusk Institute.

Today from 2-6 in the Houghton Gallery (2nd floor of the Foundation Building at 7 E. Seventh St.) at Cooper Union, the School of Art and the Student Council are hosting an auction and sale of original artwork donated by the Cooper art family of staff, faculty and students to raise money for Emilie's rehabilitation. More than 100 works have been donated to this event — some will be auctioned and some will be available as cash-and-carry.

And I apologize for not posting this information sooner for people making plans...

East First Street, 9:22 a.m., April 23

Prune brunch starts at 10 a.m.

Nevada Smith's expecting huge crowds today for Blackpool-Newcastle United

Oh! It's the Tribeca Film Festival at the AMC Loews Village 7... (Can't wait for the TFF horror stories!)

Parkscapes

You've probably seen Patricia Melvin in action before... she's been painting New York Cityscapes and landscapes for more than 30 years from her East Village home base...

EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams spotted her working the other day in Tompkins Square Park...

You can find more of her work here.

No flea market this weekend at Mary Help of Christians

11th Street and Avenue A.

In honor of Michael O'Keefe's birthday. And Easter.

At the Rock Against Poverty show this afternoon

...in Tompkins Square Park... photos by Bobby Williams...

Breaking: DBGB making sidewalk cafe look less barren

Have a Good Friday

Echo and the Bunnymen circa 1984.

Rock against Poverty this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

Dave on 7th notes that crews are setting up the stage at Tompkins Square Park now... Today, apparently (did you know this?), is the Rock against Poverty show benefiting the Vihara Foundation. According to the website, the show features Trey Lorenz & Anwar and The Trapps ... Dale Stephens and Minnie Dee.

You can buy tickets at TicketWeb ...

There's also a note reading:

Please be advised that this is a free concert and open to the public. Attendance of the event is in no way dependent upon your donation.

The show is scheduled from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. — or until someone calls the cops to complain.

Mars Bar condo conversion complete

As a follow-up from our post yesterday ... offering a glimpse of what this corner at Second Avenue and East First Street might look like one day with luxury housing on the way...

Oh, and EV Grieve regular Roger_Paw caught the artist in action. (You can find her post here.)

All this leads up to the bar's new art show starting Sunday (with BBQ!) ...

I remember what happened here last Easter. Read that here.

Looking at the Economakis front-door coop

We don't know what all this fencing is about at the under-renovation Economakis Dream Mansion on East Third Street ... Was thinking there might be poultry back there. (Uh, no.)

Anyway, we walked by because... an EV Grieve reader/neighbor is convinced they're putting in a garage... with this as the evidence...

About time

Here is news from The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation:

Next week the Landmarks Preservation Commission will be holding a property owner’s meeting to discuss two potential historic district designations in the East Village which they are beginning the process of considering. According to the LPC, the districts being studied right now run along Tompkins Square North and are bounded roughly by East 2nd and East 7th, between the Bowery and 1st Avenue. In May, the Commission will come before Community Board #3 to discuss their plans and thinking about landmark designations in the East Village.

Here is the building-by-building survey that the GVSHP conducted in the East Village. DNAinfo has more on the news here.