Remembering firefighter Stephen Schwartz

First, if you're car is parked on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B right now, then it's very likely being towed...





The street is blocked off...



...leading up to a mass at the Most Holy Redeemer Church on Third Street in honor of Firefighter Stephen Schwartz.



He was stationed at Engine 28 and Ladder 11 on East Second Street...





Schwartz died this past June 26.

Second Avenue, 9:14 a.m., Aug. 21

Call the Shred Hotline

Houston and the Bowery.

I wanna Rock

Nothing to do with anything, really. Though I recently heard this on WCBS-FM. And I always rather enjoyed the song.

On First Avenue, the space pods are winning

From EV Grieve reader Blue Glass.

Trickle down economics in action on Fourth Street

What follows is a dispatch from Bob Arihood....



It seems that shortly after 3 pm Thursday afternoon , two elderly female recyclers had some differences at the Key Food recycling facility on 4th st.. A recycling facility known for contentous recyclers . The stronger of the two females tossed the frail appearing , older female to the asphalt . Perhaps there was also an attempt to throw a bucket of something on the female who was thrown down . One can see a female demonstrating to a police officer such an act .



Police took the one female into custody , cuffing her and hauling her off to the 9th precinct . The other female was taken to hospital by ambulance .



2 hours later the recycling facility was closed . Several disappointed recyclers were seen passing the facility with the usual stuffed clear plastic bags full of recyclables . Other recyclers were seen in the area busily collecting more of the discarded East Village wealth that had trickled down to the street .

A report on last night's CB3/SLA nightlife confab

I was unable to attend last night's special meeting about CB3's liquor-license future. The goal/point:

We will review and evaluate changes to Community Board 3's existing policies and procedures guiding the Board's approvals/denials of all types of liquor licenses for establishments within the CB 3 district. All previous "resolution areas" will be reviewed.

But! Several readers were ... here's one East Village resident assessment:

I didn't find it very productive. A lot of the usuals were there ready to air their grievances about the decline of retail and oversaturation of licenses. [CB3 Chair Dominic] Pisciotta said he was looking for more input on policy, such as seeking a concrete definition of "public benefit" when considering the 500' rule. Something that subjective? Good luck.

[Board member Dave] McWater put up a few good ideas about streamlining the process of the monthly meeting, such as adopting standardized stipulations. Apparently CB4 does this. Special guest Paul Seres, a LES resident who co-chairs the CB4's liquor board was met with scattered boos when he announced he was also the president of the NY Nightlife Association. I think he had some good ideas though, and it was a shame to show him disrespect when he was just offering ideas to help.

[CB3 Manager Susan] Stetzer seemed slightly happier than usual, though was quick to mention on several occasions that the office was already overworked and few of the residents' ideas from last night would be implemented, at least with any immediacy.

In the end, there was the usual "call 311 to report problems" followed by "the police won't come when you call 311" routine. It's clear that real change comes at a higher legislative level. With one board member saying we should be voting for politicians who are sensitive to the bar issues, I wonder if anyone there really felt they possess the power to make a difference.

Jill was there too. Where I borrowed the image. BoweryBoogie has coverage here.

East Village is No. 1 for hipsters; No. 214 for quiet!

You may have read about NabeWise before. According to the site:

NabeWise allows you to understand any neighborhood as if you've already lived there, so you can explore the world on a local level, discover new places, and find the neighborhoods that are right for you.

NabeWise is currently in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Chicago. For each city, they offer "real-time neighborhood rankings across 65 key attributes such as, trendiness, noise-level, families, hipsters, and safety — things people really talk about and care about."

So! I thought it was time to look in how the East Village is shaping up against other NYC neighborhoods...

Out of 266 neighborhoods...we are rated:

No. 1 for hipsters
No. 1 for gay/lesbian identity
No. 1 for nightlife
No. 1 for artists/creatives
No. 2 for singles

On the low end... we are rated:

225th for parking
214th for quiet
185th for clean
102nd for public transportation
79th for parks




Hmmm...dunno if I agree with all this...

And is there a category for "loud, drunken singles who don't live here"?

You can go there yourself to rate and review.... and really blow the curve. Help change some of these words!

Billy Hurricane's looking to hire attractive, sexy, fun, loud and pushy female bartenders who are still in school — and rock

Our friends at East Village Feed had this listing earlier this week...

Billy Hurricane's, opening soon on Avenue B, is now hiring bartenders. Here's the job post via Craigslist.

Sexy Female Bartenders Wanted for Restaurant/Bar! (East Village)

Here we go ladies!!!
www.BILLYHURRICANES.com
New location opening on Avenue B between 2nd & 3rd Street in the East Village!
Avenue B is a highly rated up and coming neighborhood with great places like Croxley's, Mama's, 7B, Poco's and many more!

The 'BH is a New Orleans inspired Restuarant & Bar with a touch of Bayou!
Great food! Lively Bar!! Rock to Reggaton Music!!! All About Rockin' and having a Fun Time!!!
Imagine a place like Hooter's and Coyote Ugly, with out the sketchy-ness! =)

Here is what we are looking for ladies...
- Attractive & Sexy!
- Bar Experienced or at least Very Ambitious!
- Reliable, Punctual & Professional
- Social-Network Savvy, ie; Facebook, Twitter, etc...
- Marketing Driven... More $ we make, the more $ you make!
- Entertaining, ie; costume nights, loud, fun, etc...
- Ages 21-26, in School a Plus!


You think you've got what it takes to 'Rock!?
Email us the following info... alongside a current picture;

Name:
Age:
Location:
College: (if applicable)
Facebook: (if applicable)
Twitter: (if applicable)
Bar Experience: (here or resume attachment)
Availibility:
Quick Biography: (Why you would be rockin' at the 'BH)

Please send ONLY the above info, just cut & paste! Simple.
We will get 100's of inquiries... so make an impression.

We are fun-lovin' guys... who are VERY easy to work for and with...
And remember, the more you promote and push... the more money we ALL can make!

Why do I suddenly want to listen to the Scorpions now?

Start the Evolution again!: Surprisingly, flair bar fails to ignite on Second Avenue

Oh boy. Faithful readers of this space many may know that we've been following the saga of this space on Second Avenue and Fourth Street through various incarnations/awnings...2x4, Ambiance, Evolution..

And now! Not really a surprise, but... Evolution has given way to a new UK-style pub....




Thanks to EV grieve reader Tad for these above photos....

Meanwhile, please bow your heads for a last look at Evolution.... from a video that we shot in January...



"Yes, that's very nice Young Flanagan... but I just wanted a fucking bottle of Bud."


Previously on EV Grieve:
At Evolution Lounge: Vodka martini, flipped, not stirred...

And...

Previously.

"Finest Deli' for Avenue B

Finest Pizza and Deli on Avenue B and Fourth Street officially closed back in June....



...and now we know what's coming in the space...



Another late-night option for the underground party crowd at Le Souk!


Previously on EV Grieve:
Finest Pizza and Deli not closing because Le Souk went away

Disarmed and dangerous on Avenue B: Pizza statue maimed

Zum Schneider is 10

So, here on Seventh Street and Avenue C, German-loving, World-Cup-watching, bratwurst-eating... uh, Zum Schneider is celebrating its 10-year anniversary...




You can go to the the Zum site for details....



Last night, the Zummers roasted a pig on Avenue C....they'll do the same on Sunday afternoon....

Korzo Haus now open on Seventh Street

So... that interesting looking place on the right...



opened last night.....




Turns out it's an outpost of the burger place in Park Slope... and their signature burger:

Korzo Burger 10
fresh -ground beef patty, apple smoked organic bacon, Allgäuer Emmentaller cheese, house made mustard, dill pickle– all wrapped in Langoš dough & deep fried.

Here's their menu (PDF).

Previously on EV Grieve:
German burgers coming to Seventh Street

Novogratz-designed penthouse now in contract on East Fourth Street

Hey now. The upper-level, "magazine-ready" penthouse designed by the world-famous Bob and Cortney Novogratz that hit the market for $3.75 million back in March is now in contract...




Looks as if the winning price was $3.195 million, a mere 15 percent off the original....

And here's what our contestants are receiving in exchange....

Step directly from your private, key-lock elevator onto your 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath Penthouse condominium. Offering the highest caliber of finishes, every detail is customized from the Boffi Kitchen outfitted with Macassar Ebony cabinetry and stainless steel countertops to California Closets in all 3 bedrooms. The Great Room soars with 10.5 foot loft ceilings, woodburning fireplace and sunflooded, oversized windows with North and South open city views. Then take your private stairs or elevator directly onto the largest ipe-and-concrete decked terrace you've ever seen in the EV with sweeping Empire and Chrysler building views. Enclosed with sleek glass railings, this terrace is equipped with a Summer kitchen and wiring for outdoor theatre. The first floor of this duplex lends a gracious air of privacy for the 3 bedrooms, all of which have gorgeous sunlight and charming treetop views. The Master bedroom has TWO walk-in custom Cali closets, a sumptuous 5-fixture Master bath suite with dual vanity, oversized glass-enclosed shower and freestanding soaking tub. A large window floods the Master bathroom with all-day natural night. Additional luxury add-ons include radiant heat in all rooms, Crestron security system, and custom baseboard moldings. This finish quality is seen only is magazine-ready, designer homes. Extremely low common charges. Walk to the chicest East Village restaurants, steps to trendy Lower East Side and hottest upscale Bowery venues and gallerie.

We planning on meeting our new neighbors at Billy Hurricane's to Rock!

Previous excessive coverage here.

East Village couple protest for mosque developers’ rights

At the Tribeca Tribune, Matt Dunning has the story of an East Village couple protesting in favor of the mosque plans near the World Trade Center site.

Per the article:

Julia Lundy, 28, and her boyfriend, Matt Sky, 26, were sitting in their East 5th Street apartment earlier this week, growing increasingly angry as they watched the exhaustive national debate over the proposed center—at 45-47 Park Place in Lower Manhattan—unfold before them. After talking it over, the couple decided to take to the street outside the former Burlington Coat Factory where the Cordoba Initiative hopes to carry out its plans for the project they call Park51.

On Tuesday and Wednesday they stood there, waving signs that read “America Supports All Faiths” and “Support Freedom of Religion.” The couple says they intend to be there for up to 10 hours a day for the next several days in an effort to rally support for the project.

[Photo by Matt Dunning / Tribeca Trib]

Reminders: Your chance to say that 38,000 bars are enough for one neighborhood!

Tonight! As reported earlier..

Community Board 3 is hosting a Policy Meeting of the SLA & DCA Licensing Committee

Thursday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m. -- University Settlement at Houston Street Center -- 273 Bowery (at Houston St)

We will review and evaluate changes to Community Board 3's existing policies and procedures guiding the Board's approvals/denials of all types of liquor licenses for establishments within the CB 3 district. All previous "resolution areas" will be reviewed.

We want to hear from YOU!

Please fill out a "Request to Speak" form by 7 p.m. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.

· What are your plans/visions for the area?
· What are your concerns, problems?
· What do you want to retain in our neighborhood?

I'd go, but I'll be at Happy Hour. Woo!

Newly renovated apartment building has everything — except a Certificate of Occupancy

I only recently noticed that at the newly renovated 215 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C...






According to Streeteasy, the building went on sale in 2006 for $6 million... and sold for $3.5 million in February 2009.

Amazing East Village Investment. Two four story plus basement prewar buildings on a single 96' lot. Situated on a quiet block, the front building is a four story 43' x 23' mixed-use building with additional air rights and the rear building is a four story 23' x 20' multi-residential walk-up building. Both buildings face south, share a common courtyard and are surrounded by gardens. The two buildings have one commercial unit and eight residential apartments total. The property can be Delivered Vacant and presents an opportunity to get exactly what you want and where you want it! Great for a condo conversion, rental investment property or, if you so desire, your own East Village palace.

The four units were all rented by January, running between $4,000 to $4,500 a month. Here's one description:

E. Greenwich Village
** EXCLUSIVE RENTAL - 100% MINT BRAND NEW BUILDING! ** This unique gut renovated building features brand new large 3BR/2BA apartments with high-end, condo-quality finishes! Dishwasher (D/W), microwave, stainless steel appliances, double-wide fridge with ice maker, video security, central heat and A/C (CAC), custom track lighting, 2 full marble baths, solid oak strip flooring, windows and closets in all THREE (3) QUEEN SIZED BEDROOMS. All this plus a huge LANDSCAPED ROOFDECK with remote intercom and you’ve got yourself the ultimate East Village pad your friends will envy. Call now for an immediate showing...

According to the DOB, there is ALTERED/CHANGED BUILDING OCCUPIED WITHOUT A VALID CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ...

There's a hearing on the matter next month... meanwhile, folks look like they're still allowed to live here...

The dangers of the mayor's office trying to be cool

From our friends at Neighborhoodr.... and, uh, as they point out, the Ramones made their debut 36 years ago...

And there's something Bloombergy about Mr. Burns...

"I just want folks to know that the whole neighborhood is going to crap"

Quite a piece by Shefali Kulkarni in Runnin' Scared about the soon-to-close Village Fabrics.

Here's a chunk of it:

In June, Pamac Realty filed suit against Kurban Ali Kokan, the store's owner, after Kokan did not pay $27,400 in back rent. The Kokan family claimed that the store had water damage that was never properly repaired. The suit ended on August 9, when a judge ruled that Kokan must pay the back rent with interest and vacate the building. Pamac's attorney created a stipulation that reduced the amount to $20,000.

But that's still too much money, says Kokan's wife, Cemile, who is currently working at the store with their son Sadik. (The Kokan's rent was $4,400 each month for the last five years, during which business slowed down, her husband fell ill, and medical bills needed to be paid.)

Then Pamac Realty posted a For Rent sign above the storefront. "He came one day and he said 'pay or ship out' -- those were his words," Cemile says. "I'm not blaming him, but some of things he does are unfair. He's not a bad landlord, but he's fed up with me too. I guess 18 to 20 years doesn't count."

Cemile, 65, wipes tears from her eyes as she sells a few yards of brown vinyl to a customer. "I'm sorry," she says. "It's just that there's been no peace in my house for a while," she tells the customer. "We are getting older now, my husband is 80. We still have a mortgage to pay. What are we going to do after this?"

"I just want folks to know that the whole neighborhood is going to crap," Sadik, 33, says. "I mean [my parents] are senior citizens, you know? We're just tired of being honest and loyal, when apparent greed is all that matters. This just shows you what is happening to our community now."

Pasquale Coppolechia, the president of Pamac Realty, says that the tenants were never a problem, when they were paying the rent. He says the Kokans were at least eight months behind in rent and that after their 10-year lease expired, they went on a one-year lease and eventually a month-to-month one. "We offered an installment plan as well," he says. "I know they were going through some 'apparent' difficulties and that they were clearly struggling, but even these negotiations just took up time."

Coppolechia says that there are already businesses interested in the First Avenue location. "We've been collecting several requests from the broker, pardon my French, but they were like flies on shit."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Closing sale at Village Fabrics

Village Fabrics to close next month

Long live Gizmo

Given what's happening the next block up on First Avenue with Village Fabrics... here's an appreciation for Gizmo Notion...a seemingly rare breed these days around here...

Appreciating two newsstands before they are Cemusaed

These days, whenever I see a newsstand that hasn't yet been Cemusaed, I'll take a photo... such as these two down in the Financial District...




For further reading:
Two old-school newsstands that are still holding on (EVG)

Union Sq. Newsstand (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Hey Is Dee Dee Home?

Near 315 Bowery.

Flashback August 1996: A two-week tribute for Merlin

I wanted to follow-up on the Merlin's Memorial post from yesterday...



Bob Arihood, who took the shot above, documented the scene on Avenue A and Sixth Street on Neither More Nor Less after Merlin passed away on Aug. 16, 1996...



As Bob wrote:

A wake and vigil of considerable moment, lasting for the better part of 2 weeks , was held in the neighborhood at Merlin's corner . Some nights the sidewalk and street around the memorial were so densely packed with people that it seemed that everyone in the neighborhood and the surrounding communities was attending , crowded together ,all kinds of folks , from all professions and callings , from high and low paying their respects to Merlin .

Here's Merlin on his corner as many people here remember him...



Jeremiah also writes about Merlin today, asking the following: "Could such a memorial happen for a homeless man in the East Village today?"