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?"

Another corner prepping for change on First Avenue

159 First Ave. at 10th Street recently went on the market. Here's the listing:

Existing 6 Story mixed use asset with 4 commercial spaces on the main floor and 30 one and two bedroom units. Corner, Walkup apartment building, 100% occupied. 25 Free Market Units, 4 Rent Stabilized Units, one super occupied. 6 homes per floor: 4 One Bedrooms/ 2 Two Bedrooms with a total of 24 One Bedroom Homes and 12 Two Bedroom Homes. High traffic location. Prime East Village. Air rights

.

The current asking price is $12.75 million. Aside from the "air rights" part, there's nothing necessarily alarming about this... But, given the way things are going around here, why not come in, fix up the joint, double the rent, throw a few extra floors on, boot out all the ground-floor businesses for a high-end eatery.... OK, OK.. don't mean to speculate.... but the combination of this with its corner mate on Ninth Street currently looking for a restaurant or two leaves me uneasy...


[Photo by Blue Glass]

On Avenue A, a flower replaces armpit-sniffing photo of Mariah Carey

FINALLY! Since I can remember, Luster Photo on Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's has had this stupid photo of Mariah Carey in the window. The one in which she's sort of sniffing the armpit and showing off the hair extensions. Why do they have this photo in the window? What does she have to do with the East Village? This is just embarrassing. Back when the store was on Avenue B near 10th Street, they at least had a Lou Reed photo in the window. (Nothing against Luster... it's just that photo!)



But! No more! The store has changed the photo in the front window.




For now, we will savor this moment....

An ode to the truck bomb

As noted yesterday, Cheap Shots — in an effort to be less youth friendly — has done away with the truck bomb (you know, shot in a pitcher of beer)....

And now, in loving memory of wolfing down truck bombs at Cheap Shots, let's travel to YouTube...









Previously on EV Grieve:
Cheap Shots — sans truck bombs and graffiti — gets the OK for a license renewal

Former Western Union now delivering tacos

Workers have been refurbishing the former Western Union location here on First Avenue near 10th Street....



...per the sign in the window, a taqueria is opening here...

EV Grieve Eatery Etc: Plants for 325 Bowery; cherries for Cherry Tavern; Latin for Italian place

Bello's, the Italian place on St. Mark's near Avenue A...



...is ready to debut a new menu.... (and their entire menu of soon-to-be-leftover Italian fare is now 30 percent off...)



The new diner coming to Bowery and Second Street shows off its new plants....




East Village Thai on Seventh Street near Cooper Union is closed for renovations...



...and, based on the sign, it doesn't seem to be reopening anytime soon...



On Sixth Street near Avenue A... the always-reliable Cherry Tavern...


[Photo by Konstantin Sergeyev via New York]

...now has some cherries outside... (and, uh, I can't say for sure when this happened....)




The Film Academy Cafe on Astor Place East wants you to eat wine...



The new restaurant coming to Second Avenue and Second Street has some fancy lights embedded in the sidewalk...



And if you're a fan of Il Bagatto on Second Street near Avenue B, they're closed per usual this time of year until after Labor Day....



The former dry cleaners here on 11th Street near Second Avenue...



...has moved into the former Plump Dumpling space next door... Plump Dumpling moved to the corner at Second Avenue in December, of course...


[Thanks to Blue Glass for this tip]

Dumpster diving on 10th Street

Blue Glass took these shots from earlier today... the fellows seemed pleased with what they were finding in the dumpster on 10th Street near Second Avenue.....

Dining in the dark soon to be a reality on the LES

We've talked a little about last night's CB3/SLA meeting.... The Lo-Down has the scoop on more action, including a new eatery that will generate a good 10,000 or so blog posts among all of us...:

The most intriguing concept of the night came from the team behind “Dans Le Noir,” the “blind dining” franchise from Paris. Having just flown in from France yesterday, the owners walked community board members through an impressive proposal for the former “Tonic” space on Norfolk Street. The idea, they said, is simple: “Diners eat in the pitch dark and are served by blind people, creating an interesting sensory experience.”

Dans Le Noir co-founder Etienne Boisrond, elaborating on the concept, said, “you become the blind and they (the servers) become your eyes.” It’s a fusion menu with french accents. The owners noted that 10-percent of the profits go to charities around the world.

Read The Lo-Down's full report here.

Meanwhile, several people have asked me... I did not get to play the Community Board/State Liquor Authority Drinking Game last night. But these babies are flying off the shelves....

A memorial for Merlin

There's now a tribute to Merlin here on Avenue A at Sixth Street by the ConEd substation.... marking the anniversary of his death.





Per the Times:

There are few certainties in this changeable city. But on Avenue A and Sixth Street, a place that has been convulsed by change in recent years, one thing has remained constant through the riots and real-estate booms: Merlin, a 41-year-old homeless man who uses only one name, has made the intersection's southeast corner his residence for eight years. Neither blizzards nor blistering heat have routed him from atop a set of wooden pallets in front of a Con Edison substation.

"People move in and out of the neighborhood, but I never budge," he said last week, lounging beneath a pair of tattered umbrellas, his only guard against the sting of the sun. A stroke has left him partly paralyzed, and frostbite cost him several toes three winters ago.

To strangers, he is but another intrusion on the East Village's gritty streetscape, a reason to avert their eyes. But to many local residents, he is a cherished asset: a timekeeper, a message center, a town crier and a source of good, solid conversation. "Merlin is a social hub," said Tatiana Bliss, 25, a local artist. "If you're looking for someone, Merlin probably knows where they are. If you want to leave something for a friend, he'll make sure they get it. He makes this crazy city feel like a small town."

[Thanks to EV Grieve reader Anna for the photos]