Wednesday, July 22, 2015

In the case that you are just being an ass about the buzzers



An Urban Etiquette (Door Buzzer) Sign spotted at 20 Avenue A...

Photo via RyanAvenueA

Blockheads opens tomorrow on 3rd Avenue



The San Francisco-style Mexican restaurant opens tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the East Village.

The big burrito specialists, from the folks who launched Bennie's, is at 60 Third Ave. between East 10th Street and East 11th Street.

Per their Facebook page, frozen margaritas at this location will be $3 for the rest of July.

This will be the seventh Blockheads in Manhattan … not to mention the Benny's in the West Village.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Blockheads bringing their San Francisco-style burritos to the East Village

133 Avenue D is for sale (again)



An EVG reader points us to 133 Avenue D, where the 6-floor building between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street is on the market now for $12 million.

Here's some details from the listing at The Besen Group:

The 14,600 SF property is built 42.5' x 80', sits on a 42.5' x 93' lot and is zoned C1-5/R8A. The current maximum allowable FAR is 6 providing 3,646 SF of additional air rights. With cut-outs, the building has generous light and windows on all sides.

There are two retail units and one residential unit on the ground floor. Avenue D Deli & Grocery occupies the first unit with 850 SF of retail space. Marty's Wine & Liquor occupies the second unit with 850 SF of retail space. The residential unit has two-bedrooms and 600 SF.

The property has four two-bedroom units on floors two through six each with approximately 575 SF. Gut renovations were completed on all free market units. The roof has a cell tower lease in place until April 2020 which is pre-paid, and can produce future income if extended.

Highly desirable location and in demand for high-end residential and retail. 133 Avenue D is a few blocks away from Tompkins Square Park, situated close to subway stations, M140 bus stop, and walking distance to the cornucopia of stores, restaurants, and nightlife the East Village has to offer. The property is also walking distance to one of the best public schools, Bard High School Early College.

Situated close to what subway stations?

Updated 7:55 a.m.

Thanks to commenter EVEddie for noting that this building just changed hands back in the spring for $10.5 million. Per The Real Deal:

Vintage Group acquired an East Village mixed-use building at 133 Avenue D for $10,5 million ... Red Man Takes It Back Realty Inc. is the seller.

Nice flip!

Revisit King Tut’s Wah-Wah Hut starting today at the Whitney

[Photo via Facebook]

From the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, the southeast corner of Avenue A and Seventh Street was home to King Tut’s Wah-Wah Hut (now the Niagara … and from 1981-1984, A7).

It was here at the bar where the performance duo Dancenoise (Anne Iobst and Lucy Sexton) organized a weekly performance series.

And starting today the duo is getting the museum treatment. Let's head to the preview piece in the Times from Sunday for more:

In “Dancenoise: Don’t Look Back,” Wednesday through Sunday, the Whitney Museum of American Art celebrates these two collaborators with programming that includes a new performance, an installation, film screenings and a reimagining of King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut ... Tom Berry, who originally designed the Wah Wah Hut’s ever-changing décor, will construct it in the lobby of the Whitney’s theater.

From the looks of it at the Whitney website, the show performances are all sold out. However, the installation is open daily for viewing. And there's also the film and video screenings on Sunday. Head to the Whitney website for times and everything.

If you're on Facebook, then you can see more ephemeral on the King Tut's Wah Wah Hut group page right here


[Photo via Facebook]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The amazing murals inside King Tut's Wah Wah Hut

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

NYPD installs patrol tower in the middle of Tompkins Square Park


[Photo via EVG reader Ryan]

The NYPD continues to expand its presence in Tompkins Square Park following the Post and the Observer's recent reports citing anecdotal evidence that there's an influx of homeless people and drug users in the park.

This afternoon, the NYPD brought in a patrol tower (SkyWatch) to sit right in the middle of the park.


[Photo by Tullah from 7th Street]


[Photo by ‏@urbanmyths]

Thoughts?

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Post reports Tompkins Square Park 'has become a homeless haven' (113 comments)

Observer editors write, 'it's time to take back Tompkins Square Park' (49 comments)

Wash day for Temperance Fountain



The Hope side needs some attention. (And read about the history of the fountain here.)

Photo in Tompkins Square Park this morning by Derek Berg

RIP Charlie Romonofsky


[Photo by Sally Davies]

Charlie Romonofsky, a longtime East Village dog walker who was always seen with his chihuahua Sweet Pea, died in his East Fifth Street apartment last Friday. He was 57.

Romonofsky was born and raised in public housing in Coney Island. For the past 20 years he had lived on East Fifth Street where he ran his business, Mr. Charlie's Pet Services.

"He was a huge man who possessed the most gentle soul on the planet. Everybody knew him. Everybody loved him," said one of his clients, Diego Aguirre, who shares a dog with Jamey Poole, a longtime East Village resident and neighbor.

"Charlie's voice would be ringing in the morning air every day outside my window and he would go riding around on his bike with the tiny Sweet Pea tucked into his shirt," said his neighbor and friend Karen Platt. "The contrast between Charlie and Sweet Pea was something to behold, and when asked about why his tiny dog seemed so fearless and confident, he would always reply, 'Well, she's Sweet Pea, Queen of the Block.'"

Said his close friend Sally Davies, "Charlie was an eccentric. An original East Villager, a stand-up guy and a man of his word."

His friends created a memorial outside his apartment building between Avenue A and Avenue B.


[Photo by Sally Davies]

The memorial reads in part: "Happy trails to a Mighty Man, with a Mighty heart. We will miss you Charlie."



The memorial grew throughout the day yesterday... as did the tributes from those who knew him...



Said another friend: "Charlie was such a a larger-than-life character. Gregarious, sweet, helpful, funny, gentle but tough — infinitely likable. He was really one of a kind."

There's no word just yet about a memorial service.

Updated 12:45 p.m.

I don't know why the post disappeared earlier for about an hour. I found a version of the post in my drafts in the Blogger template. This version is missing the last photo and comment from a neighbor. I'll try to redo that.

Bruno Pizza, opening very soon on East 13th Street



Bruno Pizza is inching closer to opening at 204 E. 13th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.



We checked in with Demian Repucci, the restaurant designer-consultant who is launching his very own place with Bruno. He and his team held Bruno's first friends-and-family "super-secret, trial-and-error pizza party" on Saturday night. While the evening went very well, he says they still need to do some tweaking on their dough recipe and pizza-making process.

In any event, Repucci says that they will start serving pizzas this coming week.

Aside from pizza, the menu includes various pastas and salads... eventually the space will serve a tasting menu from his executive chefs Justin Slojkowski and Dave Gulino. (You can read more about all this over at Grub Street. Eater has more details here.)

Bruno was also OK'd for a liquor license, but there's still some paperwork pending. So no alcohol at the outset.

Meanwhile, Repucci has been posting photos of the menu items on his Instagram account

Pizza test eleventy @brunopizzanyc

A photo posted by @demianrepucci on



There is a Bruno website with more information, though it doesn't appear fully functioning just yet.

Openings: Turntable Retro Bar & Restaurant on Avenue B


[Photo Saturday via @salim]

The sibling of the Flushing-based Mad For Chicken operation opened this past weekend at 58 Avenue B at East Fourth Street.

There's also a Turntable location on Fifth Avenue in Koreatown. Their description: "Korean eatery & bar serving fried chicken, soju & cocktails in a hip setting with jazz-themed decor."

As the signs outside the Avenue B restaurant show, everything is apparently 50 percent off during their grand opening over the next two weeks.

The previous tenant at this address, Vella Market, lasted just six months here, closing in October 2013.

The 16-year-old vegetarian restaurant Kate's Joint closed here in April 2012.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Turntable Retro Bar & Restaurant ready to play on 4th and B

S'MAC turns 9, and celebrating with a $1 deal

Via the EVG inbox…

Happy Birthday! That's right, S'MAC is nine years old!

In celebration of our 9th birthday, on Tuesday July 21st we will be offering the All-American Nosh for $1.00 (Regular, Gluten-Free or Vegan).

Available at both the East Village and Murray Hill locations.

Limit one All-American nosh per person.

Valid for takeout only, not for deliveries.

Find more details here.

S'MAC is located at 345 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Dunkin' Donuts moving into the Jefferson's retail space


[Back in April]

Back in April, we noted that the Dunkin' Donuts at 218 E. 14th St. near Third Avenue was for lease.

And we promptly forgot about it… since then several readers noted that the DD will be moving west a few storefronts to 208 E. 14th St., part of the Jefferson's retail space...



Anyway, just a short move for the DDers …



As always, if this helps… pointing out the move for you…



A CityMD opened up in the main retail space at the Jefferson, the newish still 82-unit residential building in the North West East Village.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Meanwhile, next to the 7-Eleven on Avenue A



It's an EV Wacky Package.

Photo via cartknocker

A rush hour moment



A little earlier this evening on East Ninth Street just past First Avenue... via EVG reader Sam Teichman...

A woman walked by with a bag full of ends and crumbs from various breads and baked goods, dumps it right in the M8 bus stop ... and the hordes descended.



Thankfully, the driver of the bus that pulled up 90 seconds later had enough sense to give them some room.

Sounds better today than hot chocolate



Spotted in the window at Moishe's Bake Shop on Second Avenue today.

Photo by Elizabeth Janovsky‎

Sidewalk bridge work continues at 190 Bowery



Workers continue to erect the heavy duty sidewalk bridge at 190 Bowery, where developer Aby Rosen is converting the former single-family home into office space and maybe some high-end condos.

BoweryBoogie first spotted the scaffolding going up late last week, and not much progress has been made since then, it appears.

So what's going to happen outside here at Spring Street? As Curbed reported, the plans approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission back in May call for keeping the graffiti on the exterior. Plus! "The exterior will have entrances restored to their original 1898 state, and all of the windows will be replaced."

And as for the interior of the Germania Bank Building, a company made up of agencies representing creative professionals had previously reported signing on for some of the office space.

Rosen bought the landmarked building from photographer Jay Maisel for a reported $55 million last year. And no — it's not for sale again.

Groundbreaking today on East 13th Street for the Bea Arthur Residence for homeless LGBT youth



Nearly two years have passed since news broke that the long-vacant building at 222 E. 13th St. near Third Avenue would become the Bea Arthur Residence for homeless LGBT youth.

Today, though, as Out Magazine first reported, the center breaks ground for the facility that will accommodate 18 residents.

Arthur, who died in April 2009, left $300,000 to the Ali Forney Center, an organization supporting homeless LGBT youth, in her will. In 2012, City Council as well as then-Borough President Scott Stringer awarded the Ali Forney Center and the Cooper Square Committee $3.3 million for the residence.

The property had been owned by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Executive Director Carl Siciliano of the Ali Forney Center will be in attendance at the ground breaking with several elected officials. In a press release, Siciliano said: "It meant the world to me that a star of the magnitude of Bea Arthur would do so much to help the Ali Forney Center in our work of housing homeless LGBT youths. I am very grateful that we will now be able to honor Bea and continue to keep her compassion alive through the establishment of the Bea Arthur Residence for Homeless LGBT Youth."

And here's a rendering from July 2012 of what the property will look like when it opens later next year...



Previously on EV Grieve:
A haunted house on 13th Street?

Abandoned 13th Street building becoming the Bea Arthur Residence for homeless LGBT youth

Here's what the Bea Arthur Residence will look like on East 13th Street

Good Night Sonny ready to say hello on 1st Avenue


[Photo via Facebook]

Over on First Avenue at St. Mark's Place, the owners of Good Night Sonny have been opening the bar-restaurant, like on Saturday night, to work out the kinks.

As previously reported, the proprietors of The Wayland on Avenue C and East Ninth Street took over the space after Simone closed last November.

Wayland partner Robert Ceraso shared more about the name of the new venture with us in April:

"It’s named after my maternal grandfather. Our family owned a bar on the corner of Mulberry and Hester for 40 years or so. He sold it in the 1960s. Even though he hadn’t been a bartender in 50 years, my grandfather still always kept our late hours. The name is my grandmother saying good night to him when she would go up to bed. We wanted to honor our elders as well as all the woman in our lives who put up with our crazy lifestyle and schedule."

Ahead of the official grand opening, Good Night Sonny is offering a limited menu, featuring oysters and clams from their raw bar. You can find more photos and details on the Good Night Sonny Facebook page.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Shaping up the former Simone

Paperwork filed to renovate Peter Brant's gallery space on East 6th Street



Just noting that reps for Peter Brant have filed the application to renovate 421 E. Sixth St.

Per the DOB, in their glorious ALL-CAP style:

ALTERATION TYPE 1 FILING TO CHANGE USE ON FLOORS 1-3 TO GALLERY AND SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING ON THE 4TH FLOOR. WORK TO INCLUDE PARTITIONS CEILINGS AND FINISHES AS PER PLANS FILED HEREWITH.

Estimated cost of the renovations per the DOB paperwork: $4.8 million.

As previously reported, the building between Avenue A and First Avenue is intended to be a gallery space to display Brant's personal art collection. The intention is to have approximately two shows per year, with the first one scheduled for Fall 2016.

Brant has met with neighbors to discuss his intentions for the building… the plans look like this.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumor: The Brant Foundation buying Walter De Maria's E. 6th St. studio for an exhibition space (19 comments)

Confirmed: Peter M. Brant buys Walter De Maria's amazing East 6th Street home and studio

1st permits filed for renovation of Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

More about the 1st show at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

Here's what Peter Brant wants to do with his new exhibition space on East 6th Street

When the world's top collectors of Dom Pérignon rosé came to the East Village for dinner

Reader report: 421 E. 6th St. will house Peter M. Brant's personal art collection

Peter Brant's East 6th Street Outreach Tour 2015 continues

Peter Brant meets the neighbors

Lucy's will return Aug. 14



Lucy is on her usual summer break here on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street… back open on Aug. 14…



Meanwhile, a random Lucy's photo from the EVG archives…



As I recall, this photo is from early on a Saturday night last November. Someone asked Lucy to turn on a specific college football game. She found a Yankees Classic on YES and asked if this was OK.

NYPD rescues dog locked in car on Avenue B



Last night around 10:15, with the heat index hovering around 100 degrees, passersby noticed a pit bull locked inside a vehicle on Avenue B near East Eighth Street.

Someone called the police, who arrived and freed the dog from the car… the police took the dog away in a cruiser. No word on the whereabouts of the pit bull's owner.

Thanks to EVG reader Chris Ryan for the photo and report

Updated 10:25 a.m.

There's also a video clip...

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Week in Grieview


[The hand shadower with apparently no shadow on the Bowery by Derek Berg]

Welcome back Ray! (Friday)

A memo from the NYC Department of Pedestrian Etiquette (Monday)

Details on the financial assistance available to businesses affected by the Second Avenue explosion (Thursday)

Ben Shaoul curtails rooftop ragers at Bloom 62 (Tuesday, 63 comments)

CVS is the first retail tenant for the Death Star/51 Astor Place (Monday)

Cops: This cyclist has nabbed 2 phones from pedestrians (Monday)

The NYC films of BAM's Indie 80s series (Thursday)

Russian Souvenirs closes on East 14th Street (Thursday)

Out and About with Maurice Whitaker and Laura K. Reich (Wednesday)

Looking at all the new construction along Avenue A (Wednesday)

A look at the backlogged work orders and violations of local New York City Public Housing properties (Wednesday)

Here then, the new Moishe's Bake Shop sign (Monday)

Out with Euzkadi on East Fourth Street (Monday)

Contrada appears to have closed (Wednesday)

What happens to the neighborhood once the planet gets warmer (Wednesday)

10 stories of condos in the works for the long-vacant corner of 4th Avenue and East 10th Street (Tuesday)

La Lucha space for rent on Avenue A (Monday)

Looking at One Great Jones Alley, "a private paradise" (Monday)

Archie meets the Ramones! (Tuesday)

Signage arrives for interesting new business on East 14th Street (Monday)

Joli Beauty Bar coming to East First Street (Monday)

A look at three recent business openings (Thursday)

And this week in Tompkins Square Park:

• Observer editors write, "it's time to take back Tompkins Square Park" (Wednesday)

• Extra police and media foot patrols in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday)

• Mayor de Blasio visits (Thursday)

• After recent complaints, city vows to crack down on stuffed lions in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday)

[Updated] Report of a fire at 410 E. 6th St.



The FDNY is out in full force in response to a fire at 610 E. Sixth St. at First Avenue in the Village View complex… the fire is reportedly in a 6th-floor apartment...





… and via a reader…



Updated 1:51 p.m.



Updated 2:08 p.m.

We are unaware of any reports of injuries. @GregJKrieg was on the scene and posted photos of firefighters caring for a female pit bull from the building. (Not sure if the dog was in the apartment with the fire.) The dog was limp (but breathing) when firefighters removed her from the building…





After giving her water and oxygen … and applying ice packs…

The new islands of 3rd Avenue



Been meaning to note this… you've likely noticed this if you've crossed Third Avenue or Cooper Square anywhere from East Ninth Street to East Fourth Street of late… workers have been installing pedestrian crosswalk islands as part of the ongoing Astor Place Reconstruction Project





According to the city, the entire reconstruction/reconfiguration project is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2016.

Looks like we're in for another week of New York Post reporters in Tompkins Square Park



Not sure exactly what happened here in the ballfield in the Park's northwest corner… aside from a recent fire, that is…



Maybe some lovelorn Mumford & Sons fans?

In any event, we found the fridge someone left in another part of the Park last week.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Post reports Tompkins Square Park 'has become a homeless haven' (105 comments)

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Miscelanea NY now open on East 4th Street with coffee and tortas to go



Miscelanea NY opened Thursday at 63 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery…

They describe themselves as a "Mexican speciality food and concept store" … and they have coffee and homemade aguas frescos (and Mexican Coca-Cola) as well as some food (tortas, salads) to go …


[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]

The shop is open Tuesday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. They serve coffee all day; food until 4 p.m.

Noted



Spotted along Avenue A between East 11th Street and East 12th Street…



Not even a Kushner property…