Developer Ben Shaoul's gold-dusted condoplex at 196 Orchard St. has signed another retail tenant.
CVS is coming soon to the corner space here at East Houston Street...
The drug-store chain (FYI originally named the Consumer Value Store) joins the Marshalls in the retail spots of the 11-story, 94-unit building where residential units top out at $5.995 million.
That's all for the East Side Gourmet Deli on the southeast corner of Avenue B and Fourth Street (in the retail space of the colorful building). A look through the slats in the gate reveals an stripped and empty shop.
Word from around here is that the newish owners decided against staying following an increase in rent. The deli had been open lately with limited hours of operation.
The block isn't without market options — East Village Finest Deli is open right across the Avenue ... and Ben's is one block to the south.
We've had a few queries about Cocoa Grinder, the cafe that had its soft opening at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue back in November.
Several readers have noted that the space has been dark of late...
We reached out to the Cocoa Grinder team, who confirmed that they are closed for now. Per an email: "Figuring out if we should open it or not."
In this week's episode of H Mart is coming soon, EVG correspondent Steven takes a look to see how interior renovations are progressing here along Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street...
It appears that the H Mart will take four of the six retails spots here in the base of NYU's Alumni Hall ...
[Arrow courtesy of EV Arrow]
At least two of those retail spots — Birdbath and Citi Habitats — have been empty for nearly five years. The other two empty spots once belonged to a Subway (sandwich shop) and Saint's Alp Teahouse.
We first spotted the branding for H Mart here last August. Still no exact opening date for the specialty Asian-American grocery chain, based in Lyndhurst, N.J.
Thanks to Simon Dumenco for sharing these photos today from St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue... as he correctly notes: "It’s Easter Sunday, so it’s time for the traditional sacrificing of the Christmas trees."
Have to make room in the apartment for all the eggs...
The Starbucks on 2nd Avenue at 9th Street has closed (a day early) (Tuesday)
Atelier Sucré bringing pastry-making workshops and tastings to 7th Street (Monday)
Lift off: Jay-Z will headline the first show at the all-new Webster Hall (Monday) ... Did you get your tickets for the Jay-Z show Friday at Webster Hall? (Saturday)
Post fire, Fat Buddha remains closed on Avenue A (Monday)
At Milk Bar, a new name for the Crack Pie (Tuesday)
The above flyer is from the folks at LUNGS — Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens ... they're hosting an Earth Day celebration in East River Park tomorrow (Monday) from noon to 5 p.m. at the LES Ecology Center/Fireboat house by Grand Street and the seal spray shower (find directions here).
The new operators are BSE Global and the Bowery Presents. Here's a recap of what they've done these past months, per a news release:
The renovations at Webster Hall aimed to preserve the iconic features of the venue, while modernizing it to meet today’s entertainment standards and enhance the guest experience. The Lounge (formerly The Marlin Room) has been revamped to serve as a bar and meeting spot for ticketholders both before and after shows in the Grand Ballroom.
Design details of The Lounge include elegant gold stenciling on the walls that pays homage to the original historic design, and fluted glass along the bar that mimics the venue’s former windows.
In the Grand Ballroom, the original stage remains, while acoustics were enhanced to create an optimal live event experience. Fans and artists returning to Webster Hall will notice other new features such as central air conditioning, expanded restrooms, additional stairwells for smoother entry and exit, and the venue’s first-ever elevator that will serve guests with disabilities and speed up each show’s load-in and load-out process.
Behind the scenes, an artist compound was built with upgraded amenities to provide direct access to the Ballroom stage, creating a more comfortable and inviting environment for performers and their management. The venue’s basement level, formerly known as The Studio at Webster Hall, will also return, with more details to be announced at a later date.
A bat was making the rounds early this evening by the Hare Krishna Tree in Tompkins Square Park... Goggla shared these photos... she believe it's an Eastern Red Bat...
Once again on this Good Friday, parishioners from several churches in the neighborhood — Most Holy Redeemer, Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Mary's Grand — took part in the Stations of the Cross.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos from along Third Street...
... and a look inside the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... where the procession wound up...
If you're in the vicinity of the north side of Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B ... EVG reader Sonya shares this can-flower art that's up for grabs ...
NYC rents hit record high (Gothamist) ... Meanwhile, operating costs for rent-stabilized apartment buildings increased 5.5 percent from March 2018 to March 2019, a new Rent Guidelines Board report claims (Curbed)
A 36-year-old man committed suicide by jumping in front of an L train at the First Avenue station on Monday evening (Town & Village)
At their Easter worship celebrations on Sunday, the Middle Collegiate Church, 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, will feature selections from “Jesus Christ Superstar” at 9:30 and 11:45 am. (Official site)
Over at the Classic Stage Company on 13th Street, Marc Blitzstein's historic 1937 fervently pro-labor "play in music" "The Cradle Will Rock" continues through May 19 (Official site)
See "2001: A Space Odyssey" in the big auditorium this weekend at the Village East (Official site)
Some history of St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church on 12th Street, now a monument in front of an NYU dorm (Ephemeral New York)
How New York's raw gay history ended up in a box (Popula)
At Essex Crossing, 180 Broome St. has reached its full height of 26 stories (The Lo-Down)
The story of how this Keith Haring mural was saved from the LES... and now on display in Red Hook (Artsy)
Diversions: When the Psychedelic Furs were "one of the coolest, most underground groups around" (Dangerous Minds ... and I recall that frontman Richard Butler once lived on St. Mark's Place?)
St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery is holding its 18th annual Good Friday Blues service today from noon to 3 p.m.
Here's just a partial list of the featured performers:
• Stanley Banks, Grammy award-winning bassist.
• Art Barron, jazz trombonist, formerly of the Duke Ellington band, who has performed with Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Tony Bennett.
• Bernice Brooks, drummer, who has shared the stage with Tito Puente, Patti Labella and other Jazz and R&B stars.
• Bobby Harden, acclaimed soul and blues musician and lead singer of the original Blues Brothers Band.
• Ayodele Maakheru, guitarist and performer in Broadway orchestras, including "Bring in da Noise/Bring in da Funk," "The Full Monty" and "The Wiz."
More info is at this link. Watch a Good Friday Blues service from 2015 here.