Yo landlord!

We spotted a classic Urban Etiquette Sign under the gate at the coming-soon Upright Citizens Brigade on East Third Street ...

It's about the air conditioning unit. "Please have this piece of crap repaired, replaced or turn it off!"

Signed by "the people that live here and have to listen to that crappy A/C"

You will now be able to enjoy your Joey Ramone on Joey Ramone Place

Peels, home to the Joey Ramone and situated on Joey Ramone Place, received the OK from the CB3/SLA committee Monday night to put out a sidewalk cafe. As Eater reported, "Peels' sidewalk cafe will be particularly large with an additional 46 seats outside."

46 seats? Will this make it the largest sidewalk cafe on the Bowery? Gemma, DBGB or Pulino's don't seem quite big enough for 46. I dunno. What do you think? Gemma does seem pretty big.

Womp, there it is: Tagging 147 E. Ninth St.

We usually don't note this kind of thing (or do we?), but Jim Joe/WOMP broke out the fire extinguisher here on the side of 147 First Ave. at Ninth Street, which will be demolished become a motel become luxury rentals with a yet-unknown ground-floor restaurant.

This Womp went up in the last few days...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

A sign switcheroo yesterday at the Amato opera

Yesterday, we reported that the Amato Opera building on the Bowery is now for sale for $6.95 million. The space was previously available as a rental for $22,500 a month.



And workers quickly changed over the sign yesterday to reflect the sale.

Curbed reminded us yesterday that the building was sold back in December 2008 for $3.7 million. Will be a tidy little profit for the owner once the building sells. Per Curbed, "319 Bowery NY, LLC" closed on the property in 2008, and that LLC shares an address with Croman Real Estate, also known as 9300 Realty. Steve Croman has been named to the Voice’s 10 Worst Landlords List.

Cooper Square, 6:12 p.m., May 17

'Man cave,' get your Noho 'man cave' here...

News release from the EV Grieve inbox...

Multi-Million Dollar NYC NoHo Loft Featuring the Ultimate Man Cave

A spectacularly authentic full floor loft residence with modern flair can be found in downtown Manhattan, in the heart of NoHo. New to the market, this wonderfully expansive home has three exposures (north, east and west) and 22 oversized windows providing incredible sunlight and quintessential views of NoHo.

With approximately 3,000 square feet of living space this phenomenal loft has 11'6" barrel vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls, extra large open floor plan and original loft detail throughout. Remarkably extensive renovation completed, no detail has been overlooked. Current configuration boasts three bedrooms, three completely redesigned full bathrooms, a home office and stunning custom library. The custom library is the ultimate in man caves.

The current owner, an avid reader custom designed every detail down to the exquisitely carved burl oak bookcases and coffered ceiling. This man cave provides the ultimate old world refuge in a sleek modern loft. Not what you would expect to find at the end of a Missoni carpeted hallway. The private master bedroom suite includes windowed dressing room and a most exquisite en-suite master bathroom with steam shower.

The landmark boutique cooperative building is firmly planted in the middle of tree-lined historic Great Jones Street. This coveted loft is situated in a vibrant and highly desirable neighborhood with an enclave of superb galleries, boutiques and restaurants. $4,200,000

Not exactly what I thought a "man cave" would look like. My former 23-year-old neighborhood described his place as a "man cave," though, despite the Megan Fox poster, he was kidding.

The listing is here.

Where to get your 100-ounce beer today on Avenue A

Cafetasia on Avenue A. Photo sent along by Shawn Chittle.

CB3 highlights: East Village Brewery and Beer Shop postponed; 200 Avenue A denied

Several readers provided some quick feedback on last night's CB3/SLA meeting.

Applications within Resolution Areas

• To be determined, 14 Ave. B (op)

This is the proposed East Village Brewery and Beer Shop that we reported on yesterday.

POSTPONED

The committee postponed a vote on this because, as one resident told me, "the secret investors were not present, they couldn't identify where they were going to get the stuff to build the brewery and they had no brewmaster!"

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades

• To be Determined (Not A Bookstore LLC), 200 Ave A (trans/op) (Superdive)

The art gallery bar idea.

DENIED

Plenty of drama on this item. Board member David McWater quickly called for a vote, so residents in attendance didn't need to speak out against the applicant. Per an attendee: "In an unprecedented feat a transfer was denied. Something that almost never happens." (Shawn Chittle has more on this vote in the comments.)

• To be Determined, 500 E 11th St (trans/op) (Angels & Kings)

DENIED

Updated:

Eater has more meeting coverage here.

Burning down the house, again

"According to Billboard and the late Hilly Kristal’s daughter, a documentary on CBGB, legendary New York City venue and birthplace of punk rock, is in the works." (Crawdaddy, with a hat tip to Karate Boogaloo.)

The folk hero of East Fifth Street

A reader shares this incredible true story from early Monday morning...

[Not the actual bus in question]

I guess the 6-12 people on the safari party bus were caught a bit off-guard last night when I began trying to kick their door in. Awoken moments before, at 4, by the shouting and music, I went to the window and saw what it was and quickly grabbed my pants, shoes, thought of getting a bat, but didn’t want to wake the kids by opening their baseball gear. It was their sleep that I was trying to preserve after all.

When I went outside I wasn’t thinking that I’d be trying to kick their door in. Maybe I tried to push the door open to scream at them to move on? I don’t quite remember...except that the door was shut hard and that I was giving it my all now, repeatedly...wham! wham! wham!

As I was doing this I think I was screaming to get the bus OFF this street (maybe not as nicely as that). At one point I exchanged some words with someone baiting me at one of the two open windows, he telling me how he was going to fuck me up and holding a kitchen scissors as if it was a knife, and me saying to come on out bitch as I leapt up and tried to grab his face off.

I should have, of course, thrown a punch but didn’t, and they weren’t coming out of the bus either. There were no real fighters there, myself included, thank god, just a lot of testosterone, booze, etc. The kid turned away when someone said let’s move down the street.

And, the bus was up and running and as I was thinking down the street isn’t going to work for me, a half drunk can of beer came whizzing by my head. I followed the bus on foot, opened a recycle bin or two and pulled out some bottles, 32oz-ers I think, three of them, and I was running now. The bus thought about parking for a sec, and then decided to hightail it as they saw me running up behind them, except that the light was against them. They paused before running it as I hurled bottle #1 at their rear and as they floored it up the Bowery I hit them once again with #2.

I do wish that I had just knocked on their door and kindly asked them to turn down their music and move their party elsewhere. Oh well, perhaps this might help other prospective traveling living rooms to steer clear of East Fifth Street.

More trouble for Ray's; additional $2k fine levied, food tossed

Bob Arihood at Neither More Nor Less has a report on yesterday's DOH closure of Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A. According to a news report, despite the DOH closure, Ray decided to stay open so that he could make his rent. Unfortunately, the DOH returned at 4:30 yesterday afternoon and slapped Ray with a $2,000 fine for defying the order. In addition, as Bob reports, Ray had to toss all of his food products and immediately close. Bob has a lot more details here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
DOH shutters Ray's Candy Store

The Amato Opera building is for sale now for $6.95 million

First, a mini recap: Last July, CB3 gave its blessing for the owners of the V Bars to open a "bar/restaurant/theater experience" in the former Amato Opera on the Bowery. However, as DNAinfo reported in late March, no work has been done on the space and its remains on the market. NYCRS has the listing at $22,500 a month.

So! This weekend, an Amato Opera listing appeared at Corcoran. Its price: $6.95 million. Here's the listing:

The Amato Opera house was an historic property founded in 1964. The original building was constructed in 1899. It was the home to the celebrated opera company for nearly a half-century since before closing in May 2009. It is a four-story building, which was converted into a theatre with rehearsal and storage space, 107-seats, a 20-foot stage and a tiny orchestra pit. It measures approximately 5,429 sq., is a four-story masonry building which stands on a 22'33" X 93' lot, and measures 22'4" wide by 84' deep and c. 7'5" wide at the rear. The property, located in a C6-1 Commercial District (R7 Residential District equivalent), is well suited for commercial, residential or mix use. The building has additional air rights. Property shark states a maximum of 9,576 sf and/or a maximum height of 85 ft. The building is currently 52.4 ft high. All due diligence has to be done by buyer and we are only providing information publicly displayed on property shark with no guarantees. 319 Bowery is between Bleecker and Bond. The neighborhood is now lined with luxury hotels, fashionable restaurants and stylish fashion stores. Bring your architect and your imagination and don't miss this excellent opportunity.

Noho-branded new art for Extra Place

Oh, that's subtle.

Workers at 35 Cooper Square suddenly find the blue tarp

To protect the side of the Cooper Square Hotel from the elements. Where was this when the roof of the historic 35 Cooper Square was rotting while exposed to the elements?

Previously.

Avenue A, 8:11 p.m., May 16

Lights are on, but no one was inside.

May 16*

EV Grieve reader Scott passes this photo along from Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B today. So card-carry members of the International Coalition of Tree Tossing in the Spring (ICTTS) will quickly note that:

A) There is no newspaper for authentication, verification or substantiation.
B) It's a fake tree.

Still. We dutifully Skyped ICTTS spokesperson Gruber MacDougal, currently on a truffle-hunting expedition in Western Australia. An ICTTS tribunal will hold a hearing sometime soon in the future or later.

Today, in the drizzle

All photos by Bobby Wiliams

Jeep-minivan chase on East Houston ends in spin out

A quick eyewitness report from a few minutes ago via @talsafran on Houston near Avenue C:

"This Jeep was chasing a gray minivan. Ran red lights and spun out.

Everyone in the white Jeep ran out, the car's empty."

Your chance to buy a boutique hotel on Great Jones

A rather fascinating new listing has appeared at the the Massey Knakal site involving the seemingly dormant hotel project at 25 Great Jones at Lafayette:

A 13-story boutique hotel development slated for 48 guestrooms. The project awaits a flag or boutique operator to customize. The ground floor could be occupied by a hotel lobby and a lounge. The cellar could include a boardroom, spa rooms and offices. The demolition, excavation, concrete super structure, and construction lift are fully complete; whereas the interior partition framing and electrical are partially complete. A liquor license has been submitted and conditionally approved. The hotel is located in one of the most desirable downtown locations. Nearby hotel suites can go for as high as $650/night, as seen at the Bowery and Cooper Square Hotels. The adjacent luxury Great Jones Spa has expressed strong interest in a joint venture to provide services and direct access for the hotel. 22 Bond Street, a 25’ wide contiguous one story building, is available separately by Massey Knakal; it could be combined to enlarge the food and beverage space of 25 Great Jones if needed. Hotel opportunities are exceedingly rare in this historic district enduring little or no future competition in this trendy downtown location.

Submit your proposals now!

Check out Curbed for more of the hotel history here.

Let's hope that no one is inside

Porta-potty down! 10th Street near Avenue A via Dave on 7th.

DOH shutters Ray's Candy Store

Terrible news via EV Grieve contributor Dave on 7th... The DOH paid a visit to the venerable Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A this morning ...

Per Dave, the DOH has shuttered Ray's for the time being... We'll have more soon...

The latest inspection hasn't been posted yet. The last inspection was Nov. 10, where Ray's received 15 points, including for "Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared."

Paying the Chillmaster a visit on East Third Street

On April 5, we reprinted an item about some ongoing maintenance issues at First Houses, the first public housing complex in the United States on East Third Street between First Avenue and Avenue A.

And the whole comments thread turned into a discussion on the fellow who lives in a ground-floor apartment here who seems to enjoy his music (classic R&B and soul) and his drinking. We followed that up with another post on the apartment. Turns out the fellow has many fans. Not to mention a nickname — the Chillmaster.

Per a reader in the comments: "I pass this guy all the time ... I would love to hear his story."

Well, thanks to EV Grieve regular Marty Wombacher, now we do know more of this story. For his Marty After Dark blog, Marty paid the Chillmaster a visit on Friday night. (This had been pre-arranged.)

You can read the whole thing at Marty After Dark. But a few highlights. He has a "Chillmaster Chill Easy Chair" that vibrates and has a heat control.

He grew up in Harlem... he's retired... and he has lived in this apartment for eight years.

And he likes Hennessey.

Marty even printed out the EV Grieve post with all the Chillmaster comments...

By the way, Marty paid a visit to the Chillmaster with Kate from One Folded Sunset. You can read her post on the night here.

Marty's reaction via email: "Classic fucking New York night!"

[All photos via Marty After Dark. Reposted with permission]

Coming to 14 Avenue B: East Village Brewery and Beer Shop

14 Avenue B is on tonight's CB3/SLA docket. (Read the CB3/SLA history of this space here.)

And the proprietors have outlined their very specific plans for 14 Avenue B with a letter and menu posted on the front door of the building. (By the way, as you may recall, Discovery Wines is moving next door to 16 Avenue B in the coming weeks.)

Here's the letter — not sure how well you can read it here...

"Our goal is to produce an in-house, award-winning craft beer to be consumed and sold on premises, complimented by a fine cocktail and wine selection paired with a foodie restaurant with a steak-based menu.

"We additionally plan to create a retail space similar to the Beer Room component of Whole Foods in order to offer craft beers and beer-related dry goods to neighborhood enthusiasts."

And here is their proposed menu...

Verizon preps wall for more tagging

The ongoing brown-paint war at the Verizon building along 13th Street (at Second Avenue) continues... here's how it looked earlier last week...

And after a paint job on Friday...

To be continued....

Previously.

[Thanks to Woodland Creature for the tip.]

Mind your bench manners at Momofuku Milk Bar

Momofuku Milk Bar moved across 13th Street and opened up a new shop at the end of April.

Given the popularity of anything with "Momofuku" in the title... Milk Bar management reminds patrons to use the benches in front of their store...

... and not congregate on the residential steps elsewhere on the street...

We'll have to wait longer to find out about plans for 34 Avenue A

34 Avenue A was one of the most intriguing items on tonight's CB3/SLA docket. In March, the committee rejected the proposal to turn the former Aces and Eights space back into a performance venue.

No name was on the appliacation for the space in May, simply: "To Be Determined, 34 Ave A (op)"

In any event, we'll have to wait longer to find out about the plans for the space: 34 Avenue A is a scratch for tonight.

Meanwhile, one other item of interest: 200 Avenue A, the art gallery with a full liquor license. In previous posts on this the gallery, several readers claimed that they were misled when it came to sign a petition of approval for the plans.

For instance, per Cat Sitter in the City:

I wish I could take my signature off that Superdive/now we're an art gallery petition I signed. It really bugs me that the girls were telling me they were creating an art gallery. I had no idea it was an art gallery with a liquor license, and I wonder if they duped others in the same way.

And!

Anonymous said...
Oh, great. I signed their petition. They said it was going to be an art gallery. They were two nice girls who didn't say anything about booze. I feel like I was hoodwinked.

This weekend in big parties on Avenue B

Late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, a reader noted a large, uh, gathering on Avenue B... bringing back nightmares memories of Le Souk...

While they were in front of the former hookah hotspot, partygoers were actually going in the door next to the space for a party in an apartment above the old Le Souk ...