The Post features Jennifer Esposito's East Village bakery today

The Post today has a feature on actress Jennifer Esposito's new "roll" (haha, Post) ... her gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar-free, soy-free, peanut-free, allergy-friendly, organic bakery that opened on East 10th Street on March 2.

The piece touches on her 14-hour work days at Jennifer's Way Bakery and her battle with celiac disease... which led her to open the bakery...

And it's serious business here... to the article!

Rick Byrd, 56, a friend of the actress, who was recently manning the cash register, tells of how Esposito’s boyfriend, model Louis Dowler, recently came in with a sandwich from another shop and was made to leave, lest his lunch contaminate the space.

“We don’t even allow gluten on the premise,” says Byrd, who is severely gluten-intolerant himself. “It’s a safe zone.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
Actress Jennifer Esposito's Jennifer's Way Bakery opening soon on East 10th Street

Checking in on 427 E. 12th St., future home of a 6-floor Karl Fischer-designed apartment building

We haven't checked in on 427 E. 12th St. since February 2012. This is the six-story Karl Fischer-designed apartment building that we first mentioned back in July 2011.

At last look in early 2012, there were support braces in the muddy (and long-dormant) pit to help prop up 425 E. 12th Street... and complaints to the DOB about the construction causing "damage to phone lines at 429 E. 12th St. and cracks in bathroom walls."

These days, the building appears has finally reached that sixth floor, and looking like this...









DOB documents show two units each on floors two through five, with one apartment on the sixth floor... there's also mention of a "recreational area" on the roof.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Karl Fischer designing new East 12th Street residence

427 E. 12th St. back from the dead?

Plywood arrives for Apartment 13, the new restaurant from Paul Seres on Avenue C

Plywood went up late last week at the former location of The Porch on Avenue C between East Seventh and East Eighth Street... Apartment 13 is the new restaurant from Paul Seres, the former president of the New York Nightlife Association and a partner in The DL on Delancey and Ludlow...

A quick refresher on the concept, via CB3 paperwork:

All entrees at Apt 13 will be market driven and will be served in the same style as Korean barbeque. Every dish will be served with side dishes, appetizers, condiments, sauces, salads, and garnitures. Seasonally and locally driven. Family styled dinners. Meant to feel reminiscent of an intimate sit down dinner in our apartment. All dishes will change based on market availability. In following the theme and mission statement of apartment 13 we strive to not only support our local state Farms but also our neighborhood by featuring local artists and supporting local businesses.

There was opposition to this application. CB3 OK'd the liquor license in December (it failed to get the green light in October) ... we wrote about it in December. (Revisit that here.)

Here is what CB3 signed off on... via the minutes from the CB3 website (PDF)

Apartment 13 (115 Ave C LLC), 115 Ave C (op)
VOTE: To deny the application for a full on‐premise liquor license for 115 Avenue C LLC, with a proposed business name of Apartment 13, for the premise located at 115 Avenue C, unless the applicant agrees before the SLA to make as conditions of its license the following signed notarized stipulation that
1) it will operate as a full‐service restaurant, specifically a comfort food restaurant, with a kitchen open and serving food during all hours of operation,
2) its hours of operation will be 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 A.M. Sundays through Wednesdays and 4:00 P.M. to
12:00 A.M. Thursdays through Saturday,
3) it will play ambient background music only, consisting of recorded music, and not have live music, DJs,
promoted events, scheduled performances or any events at which a cover fee will be charged,
4) it will close façade doors and windows at 9:00 P.M. weeknights and 10:00 P.M.; Fridays and Saturdays,
5) it will only commercially use the second floor patio if it is first completely enclosed and soundproofed,
6) it will install additional soundproofing per the recommendation of an acoustical report, and
7) it will designate an employee to control crowds and noise on the sidewalk.
Community Board #3 is approving this application for a full on‐premise liquor license although this is a location in an area with numerous licensed premises because 1) Paul Seres, the principal of this application, has a longstanding history as a responsible liquor license holder at other licensed businesses, 2) this is an application for a full‐service restaurant with a locally sourced food and drink menu and moderate operating hours, and 3) this application will replace a preexisting problematic business.

No word yet on an opening date.

'All uses considered' for former Litro space on East Sixth Street

[Last December via an EVG reader]

There's a Craigslist listing for 308 E. Sixth St., which last housed the short-lived Litro, an Italian cafe ...

Per the listing:

Retail Space Available Previously Restaurant at 308 East 6th Street!!! - $7995
Vacant Space Available includes...
900 : Ground Floor
700 : Basement

Ideal for Restaurant, Boutique, / all uses considered / convenience / clothing / quick food / yogurt / ice cream / meatballs / pizza / dry use
12 feet of frontage on East 6th Street
NO KEY MONEY
fully built out space with kitchen and Hood
Vented for cooking
ideal location in Great east village neighborhood.
Possession : Immediate

Meatballs?

As for Litro, it opened early in the summer... and, as far as we could tell, closed by the end of the summer. The restaurant sat in a rather miserable-looking state... and the notice from the marshal arrived on Feb. 1, as this photo from EVG regular peter radley shows....

Notes left on discarded mattresses are usually awesome

Generally speaking. Here's one on East Eighth Street...



Would you take this mattress home? Maybe after a movie and dinner?

Previously on EV Grieve:
This week in discarded mattress epidemics in the East Village

EV Grieve Eatery Etc.: Renaming Riceton; cleaning out Tepito

A new name and awning for what was Riceton on East 14th Street near Third Avenue... not sure if the same owners are involved. Will ask the psychic next door.

-----

On Saturday, workers cleaned out the former Tepito space on First Avenue near East 14th Street...





Tepito closed in February... one reader thought that the owners were going to try a new concept here... though we haven't been able to verify that...

Who you gonna call?

Jose Garcia spotted this yesterday on East 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... "I swear I thought this was a plumbing/skin care combo when I first saw it."

Anyway! No word if they were here for irrigating or removing moles. (Or both!)

Evening tweets

Well, this is just *stupid* twitter.com/evgrieve/statu…

— evgrieve (@evgrieve) March 19, 2013

Something Sweet looking for help to revive its East Village bakery

[EVG file photo by Dave on 7th]

Something Sweet, the family-owned bakery on First Avenue and East 11th Street, has been closed since July. There have been a variety of issues, including some health-related matters...

Now, though, the family is ready to get going again... and, as this ad shows, they are looking for some help...

Resident asks, What can I do about those 2 dogs left outside all day on 7th Street?

A note from a reader:

"I live next door to Cafe 81 on 7th Street and lately there have been two dogs left outside all day inside the fenced in area. They bark all day long. They're small dogs, but they're very loud and annoying. Sometimes a woman comes out of the building and gives them food and water, but mostly they're just out there alone. I've called 311 a few times, but nothing has changed. It's bad for the neighbors trying to get some peace and it's bad for these poor dogs. E.V. Grieve, can you and your readers please do something!!!"

The reader followed up later yesterday.

"An angry woman screamed out the window to Shut those dogs up! And someone came out and took the dogs in. Hopefully for good!"

Given the location, I'm surprised that no one has thrown a shamwow at the dogs.

Also, Cafe 81 has been closed now for months, as noted previously...

Previously on EV Grieve:
At Cafe 81, you'd better be quiet or someone will throw a shamwow at you

The big dig begins for 6-story, 2-unit condo on East 9th Street

[Jeff Day ©2013]

In Early February, we spotted a few workers in the soon-to-be-former parking lot at 327 E. Ninth St. pushing some dirt around here between First Avenue and Second Avenue ...

Late least week, the work really began on the six-story, two-unit residential building.


[Jeff Day ©2013]

Also, EVG regular William Klayer notes that the dig has turned up some underground brick from the previous structure here...





Anyway, it looks like this now ... and as a reminder of what will eventually materialize ...

[Via Curbed]

And how was your St. Patrick's Day weekend?

[Bobby Williams]

As you may have noticed, it was St. Patrick's Day/Weekend this past, uh, weekend. Most people we talked with talked didn't think the weekend got out of hand as perhaps anticipated. At least by SantaCon standards.

It wasn't incident free, as this photo by the post office on East 11th Street and Fourth Avenue shows...


[Photo by @gradydunning]

And we have no idea what happened here on St. Mark's Place. Likely had nothing to do with St. Patrick's Day. But there is a guy with a green shirt standing there!


[Photo by @Knickerbock4Lif]

And a few photos via Scoboco's Flickr account, where you can find more East Village shots here.





Some readers have already left their observations here. Please leave any additional St. Patrick's Day thoughts in the comments below.

Reader report: 8th Street Winecellar looking to open a 4th Street location

Last evening, members of the East 4th Street A & B Block Association and other concerned residents met to discuss several new bars-cafes-restaurants in the works for this part of the East Village.

Reps from some of the bars were apparently on-hand to discuss their ventures. One tidbit. We didn't know who was angling for the space at 211 E. Fourth St. vacated late last year by JujoMukti Tea Lounge. A tipster tells us that the folks behind the 8th Street Winecellar are hoping to take that space. They are expected to be on the April CB3/SLA committee agenda.

Here's a description of the place via New York:

Located below street level on a busy Greenwich Village block, this warm, unpretentious wine bar keeps oenophiles lingering with a helpful staff and shareable small plates of charcuterie and pigs in blankets. Owners Jonny Cohen and Michael Lagnese are veteran Union Square Café barkeeps—the T-shirt-clad duo are often caught behind the wood-accented bar, dropping an informed suggestion from their lengthy selection of affordable wines (no bottle over $100).

No word if they will change their name here to 4th Street Winecellar.

[Image via the 8th Street Winecellar website]

This East Village residence has its own screening room

There are new listings for 310 E. Ninth St. near Second Avenue, where the Google Street View car immortalized these people enjoying some Mud Coffee on the front stoop...

Per the Corcoran listing:

Brand New Exclusive ... 3500SF (approx) Exquisite Residence featuring 3 Floors of Living with 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, Parlor Level with Master Suite, Garden Level with Private Backyard/Patio ...

The Formal Parlor Room with Wood-Burning Fireplace and 11’ Ceilings defines elegance and is the perfect way to welcome guests into your home. The Spacious Master Suite has an Elevated Bedroom, Dressing Area, extra-large Soaking Tub and Separate Shower Enclosure. Descend the Staircase to the Garden Level with its 20' Ceilings, Wall of Windows exposing the Tranquil Backyard/Patio and allowing Bright, Southern Light to dramatically illuminate the residence. Chefs will revel in the restaurant-worthy Kitchen with Granite Countertops, Stainless Steel Appliances, Wolf Stove and Hood, SubZero Fridge, Miele Dishwasher, Exposed Wood-Beam Ceilings and great cabinetry.

Another Wood-Burning Fireplace, Wall of Exposed Brick and Recessed Lighting provide a cozy feel to the enormous Living Room. The Recreation/Screening Room Level is outfitted with a Projector and Movie Screen.

Sadly, no photos of the screening room.

Oh. Price: $17,500.

Some unknown LLC bought the building in May 2010 for $3.2 million. Anyway, if this rental is too much, then there's another unit at 310 for just $12,500.

1 of Sharon's laundromats has closed on East 13th Street

The laundromat near Third Avenue — right across the street from The Jeffersons — closed last week... (Didn't spot the listing online just yet...)

However, the owner does still have a second location down the block toward Second Avenue...



Perhaps laundromats are on the endangered list? One on East 10th Street is closing; one on East Second Street is likely becoming a bar.

This is what 400 pounds of high-gluten flour looks like on an East Village sidewalk

Spotted sitting outside Joey Pepperoni on First Avenue ...

Yogurt Station serves again on St. Mark's Place

Apparently the Yogurt Station on St. Mark's Place, which has had trash bags adorning its windows since November, was just Closed for the FroYo season. They are back open.

UFO sighting this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

Turned out to be peaceful. Photos by Bobby Williams.

Today's hawk in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Week in Grieview

[East Ninth Street near Broadway looking east toward 51 Astor Place]

Here is the 'East Village3' (Monday)

The excavation outside the former Cabrini Center (Monday)

Out and About with Mistress Evil (Wednesday)

The Lucky Cheng's sign comes down (Monday)

Photos from the Coney Island USA Spring Gala (Sunday)

Zaragoza turns 13 (Thursday)

The Bleecker Bob's sale is under way (Friday)

Papaya King for St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Steamed at Con Ed (Monday)

Laundry-bistro still in the works (Friday)

Flea Market Cafe reopened (Monday)

A good sign for the Native Bean (Tuesday)

Jennifer's Way Bakery to star in reality-TV pilot (Wednesday)

Trees for 51 Astor Place (Wednesday)

[Video] Really liking this board (Thursday)

A Subway seized on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

A gluten-free Italian cafe for East Fifth Street (Wednesday)

Where is Biker Bill? (Tuesday)

A Ramones movie? (Wednesday)

... and Richard Hell at East Village Radio (Wednesday)


[Richard Hell photo for EV Grieve by James Maher]

Reminders tonight: Meeting to discuss incoming East Village bars

As noted back on Monday, there's an East Village community meeting tonight ... of particular interest to residents of the southern stretch of Avenue B and the side streets. (Read that post here.)

The meeting, sponsored by the East 4th Street A & B Block Association, will be held from 6:30-7:30 in the community room at 535 E. Fifth St.

Of particular interest is 14 Avenue B, where folks behind Urge hope to open a new bar.

Casey Rubber Stamps hosts their 7th annual St. Patrick's Night Party tonight

Casey Rubber Stamps on East 11th Street is one of the most unique shops around... and one of my favorite places here.

Tonight, owner John Casey, who moved here from Ireland at age 16, throws his annual St. Patrick's Night Party... No woo, just some local fun...


[Courtesy of EVG reader Chris]

Here's a little more on the shop via WNYC...

The walls of his narrow shop — which doubles as his workshop — on 11th Street in Manhattan are lined with myriad stamps ranging from whales to peas-in-a-pod, spider webs, shells, guns, teeth, the Manhattan skyline and even that most fearsome creature: the bed bug. About half his business comes from selling pre-made stamps that range from $3 to $15. The other half is custom designs that customers request or bring in.

Rubber stamping is a simple technology that dates back about 150 years — and to judge from the operation at this tiny store, it really hasn't changed that much.

East Village residents already giving up on spring

East 10th Street and Third Avenue this morning... wind chill is in the 20s at the moment.

Also! To show the trend. From last Sunday on Second Avenue and East Fourth Street...

At 9:12 a.m., there were 7 people waiting for McSorley's to open

The other two people were across the street having a cigarette. Anyway, I expected more people by now.

The bar opens today at noon.

A more traditional St. Patrick's Day celebration at St. Brigid's this morning

During the 10 a.m. mass today ... Avenue B and East Eighth Street...

Photo by Bobby Williams.