EV Grieve

Thursday, June 16, 2011

What is going on with the corner of 14th Street and Avenue A?

EV Grieve reader Tom passed this along yesterday... we'll let him report the story...

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As you know, ever since May 12, 2010 when the fire destroyed the stores on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Avenue A, there has been no reconstruction whatsoever at the site. The only thing open at that corner has been the Middle Eastern food cart that appeared there a few months ago:

Then in late May, I noticed that some workers removed one plywood sheet, entered the site and did a little work. Here's a pic of a worker taking measurements; and given the length of the tape measure, he clearly wasn't measuring for drapes:

Then yesterday, they started building a sidewalk construction shed around the site:

I checked the land records online, and there's no new deed on record yet. But something's up. Whatever it is, I just hope that Stuyvesant Grocery and Pete's-A-Place will be able to return.

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We walked by the site ourselves last evening. The posted permits expired on April 1. According to the DOB, there aren't any other permits on file or pending.

So that means — shocker! — the work yesterday was done illegally... Meanwhile, we await the fate of this corner.

And a photo from DJ Xerox...

On this date in 1975 at CBGB

Thanks to Karate Boogaloo for pointing us to a collection of CBGB ads from 1975 as they appeared in The Voice.

It's All the Streets You Crossed Not So Long Ago has posted dozens of ads... here's one from the paper dated June 16, 1975...

7/21/75

And here's James Wolcott's review of the Ramones from July 21...

She has a collection of ads circa 1975 for other venues, including Club 82 ... and the Beacon.

Thurston Moore and memories of 315 Bowery

La Blogothèque has this new feature on Thurston Moore, who talks about how he first came to New York as a teen... and a few other takes on his time at CBGB... the video includes a good deal of his latest solo material as well.

And from the written intro to the video by Derrick Belcham:

In the bathroom of 315 Bowery, in New York City’s East Village, a picture of a picture of a rock club hangs. The original was taken some time after the club closed last decade, an impression of a time when it had already lost modern relevance, reproduced so that even the faded memory it captured would be lost in a dimly lit hall of mirrors.

Outside of the bathroom, an attendant of John Varvatos tells me that the store policy is to not allow photography of the store. I tell him that it isn’t the store I’m taking photos of. The chagrin of my own borrowed nostalgia is forgotten in the shadow of his callowness. He becomes heated and directs me to an area by the door. Here, a farcical museum has been erected. Stickers and gig posters are gathered here, organized for optimum viewing behind a pane of glass, under-lit to provide an efficient area to gift wrap Italian-sewn men’s jeans.

Something besides a bar opens on upper Avenue A

Hey, a new barbershop opened here between 13th Street and 14th Street... What was this, the massage place that moved across the street? Anyway, always nice to see regular old businesses open...

Exquisite DVD Video now featuring 'store for rent' signs

While checking out the IHOP sign the other day, I noticed that the Exquisite DVD Video store next door on 14th Street is on the block...

It's still open, so you have a chance to buy one of the 50 copies of "Perfect Stranger" that they seem to have.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Dog day afternoon III

At Tompkins Square Park today. Photo by Bobby Williams

Luca Bar back open on St. Mark's Place

On May 26, the state seized the Luca Bar on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A. According to the Local East Village, the owners of the Italian bistro owed state tax officials $31,385.49, not including interest and penalties.

Apparently all this has been taken care of: Anastasia at the Luca Bar dropped us a note to tell us that they reopened yesterday.

Shampooin' in the rain

EV Grieve reader John Iz passes along this photo from last Thursday's rainstorm... where he spotted this fellow on Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street shampooing his hair with the rain water ... while chugging a beer.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Questions linger over arrest at the Tompkins Square Park chess tables (Neither More Nor Less)

The unique Footlight Records on East 12th Street is becoming a real-estate office (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

A look at Avenue C's Umbrella House (Off the Grid)

What will happen to Pier 35 on the East River? (BoweryBoogie)

RIP Barry Chusid (The Lo-Down)

33 reasons to love summer (The Village Voice)

And from a reader via email:

Rally for Real Rent Reform At Gov. Cuomo’s NYC Office

On June 15, the rent laws are set to expire, putting the homes of over two million New Yorkers at risk. Tenants are demanding that Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature do more than just renew the laws. We need stronger laws to protect rent stabilization for the future!

WHEN: Wednesday, June 15 at 5 pm
WHERE: 633 Third Avenue (Between 40th and 41st)
WHY: New York needs real rent reform NOW!

Reposting: New sidewalk shed at St. Brigid's brings an end to shelter for travelers

I posted this last September ... reposting part of it now after the conversation about the disappearance of Crusty Row...

Last week, to meet the demands of the continued renovations, workers put in a new sidewalk shed on the Eighth Street side of St. Brigid's... the structure takes up most of the sidewalk now...

During August, before the expanded sidewalk shed, several travelers would camp out here at night ...

Last month, I spoke with several regular East Village travelers... they all told me that the NYPD had suddenly cracked down on them like never before... and, according to them, the police said that this area by the under-renovation church was OK for them to sleep... and that Tompkins Square Park was "strictly forbidden."

There was some talk of increased gang activity... with the travelers being the target of the violence...

By now, though, most of the travelers have already moved on as usual this time of the year... just a handful remain.... In any event, the new sidewalk shed would keep them from sleeping alongside St. Brigid's...

The S.S. General Slocum, 107 years later

Today mark's the 107th anniversary of the the General Slocum disaster. You likely know about this tragedy. The S.S. General Slocum was a paddle steamer packed with mothers and children on a church trip that caught fire in the East River. More than 1,000 people, mainly residents of the East Village's German community, died.

Prior to Sept, 11, 2001, the burning of the General Slocum had the highest death toll of any disaster in New York City history.

Ephemeral New York has more on the tragedy here and here. You can find more Slocum resources here.

By coincidence, a worker was trying to clean a tag off the Slocum Memorial Fountain in Tompkins Square Park yesterday. Dave on 7th, who took the photo, said the worker was unaware of the anniversary.

The City dedicated the fountain in 1906. Per the Parks & Recreation website:

The Slocum Memorial Fountain by sculptor Bruno Louis Zimm was donated by the Sympathy Society of German Ladies and installed in Tompkins Square Park, a central feature of the neighborhood. The nine foot upright stele is made of pink Tennessee marble with a low relief of two children looking seaward as well as a lionhead spout.

DOH temporarily closes Quintessence

Yesterday, the DOH closed Quintessence, the vegan-raw food restaurant on 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. Signs point to "emergency repairs," with a reopening tomorrow.

Naturally, this didn't make the folks happy at Quintessence, where they've enjoyed A ratings from the DOH. You can read the note they left on the door for patrons:

Your chance to bitch about discuss the M15 Select Bus Service tonight

As The Lo-Down reported, there's a CB3 transportation committee meeting tonight at 6:30 ... where officials from the city's Transportation Department will be on hand to discuss the now 8-month-old M15 Select Bus Service on First and Second Avenue... Plus! They want to hear from you! (You need to sign up beforehand...) The meeting is at the University Settlement's Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery.

The M15 has been a popular topic at EV Grieve, with healthy discussion here ... here ... and here.

I haven't heard much one way or another lately. As for me, well, I found it annoying at first. So I bought a car.

Is this your abandoned Vespa on East 12th Street?

A reader notes that this Vespa has been chained to a tree here in the 500 block of East 12th Street for some time now ... Neighbors believe that the owner has abandoned the Vespa. The reader asks, "Is it illegal to chain Vespas to trees? Am I crazy for feeling bad for the tree?"

Probably a good thing this isn't parked on East Third Street.

Workers renovating former Barbao space on St. Mark's Place

EV Grieve friend Bayou passed along this shot from yesterday morning... where workers are gutting Michael "Bao" Huynh's eatery on St. Mark's Place...

This address is on the docket for Monday night's CB3/SLA meeting:

• The Saint Mark's Red House (TTD& G LLC), 115 St Marks Pl (wb)

This will make the third Bao restaurant here this year. DOB 111 became Barbao back in January.

In April 2010, the CB3/SLA committee voted against his application for a beer-wine license at DOB 111.

Rock 'n' Roll Animal? Lou Reed tag ends up on historic lion outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

The Lou Reed tags have seemingly been everywhere of late ... now, as this photo by EV Grieve reader Peter D. shows, someone even tagged one of the lions that protects the St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery on Second Avenue at 10th Street...

Rev. Guthrie bought the two lion sculptures in the 1920s, according to the church's website. The lion is the symbol of St. Mark.

Candela Candela team opening Crudo Vineria Con Cucina in Little Italy

On Monday evening, I walked through Little Italy in search of Mario Batali's Eataly. Couldn't find it!

Seriously, though, I did spot what's coming to the former Umberto's space on Broome Street — Crudo Vineria Con Cucina ... And there's an East Village connection here.

As Grub Street reported, the team behind the Cuban-Italian spot Candela Candela on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street will serve southern Italian cuisine here. Crudo is expected to open today. (And as you may know, Umberto's Clam House relocated down the way on Mulberry.)

Meanwhile, in the space next door, BoweryBoogie pointed out that Sal's is moving here from their current Broome and Mott location.

Hope that they keep the "Heart of Little Italy" signage...

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Before the rain this afternoon

AWKWORD sent us this photo right before the rainstorm a little bit ago ... from a rooftop near Second Avenue and East Fourth Street.

And how was your commute?

What the heck, let's step away from the neighborhood for a moment ... this has been making the rounds... From a Manhattan bound E or M train on Sunday.

Updated: Boo! YouTube removed the video!

A discount Mercedes

Shawn Chittle came across this Mercedes doubling as an ad vehicle for the Discount Organic Cleaners & Laundromat ... here on 14th Street at Avenue A.

You always build credibility by using a Mercedes to help advertise a "Discount" laundromat!

The Muppets take Manhattan, sort of

Dave on 7th notes that a crew is filming something with ~~a Muppet~~ Murray Monster now in Tompkins Square Park near the dog run.

One dog owner told us that the crew members were grumbling about so many dogs barking.

Earlier, a very special EV Grieve correspondent noted that the poor ~~Muppet~~ Murray Monster had seemingly been impaled...

And what Muppet is this? ~~Elmo's Crusty Cousin?~~ Thanks to a reader... it's Murray Monster.

A lower Second Avenue now and then

I had forgotten about this project ... earlier this year, I was trying to line up a now-and-then with the lower stretch of Second Avenue at Houston ... to document the soon-to-be-demolished buildings at 9 and 11 Second Avenue...

First up, how the block looked in an undated photo via the NYPL Digital Library of Second Avenue... looking north to First Street... The Mars Bar building once housed the Woolworth Theater.

...and from this year...

...a little bigger...

It's not quite right, but you get the idea. I always felt rushed with the shots ... this required a trip upstairs to cafe area of the Whole Foods Bowery...

Jeremiah has more on this stretch of Second Avenue here.

Former Ruby Lounge becoming a residence on East Second Street

Over on Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, there's activity at the long-dormant space that once housed something called Ruby Lounge.

And, in a bit of a surprise, it appears that another bar or retail space won't be coming soon here. According to the DOB, workers are converting the space into residential use.

Croxley Ales beer garden sign finally removed

While we're waiting to hear what kind of development deal is in place for the former Croxley Ales beer garden on Avenue B ...

...we noticed that the Beer Garden sign that remained up the past few years even though the bar stopped using the space in 2006-2007 ...

[Yun Cee Ng for New York magazine]

However, workers have now removed the sign.

Intervideo Electronics now closed on First Avenue

Store closing signs went up late last month at the computer repair shop-plasma TV installers-DVD rental place on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... Swung by to see if there were any further markdowns...

Unfortunately, I found that the owners had already closed the store ... nothing left inside...

...with just a few reminders of what was here ...

The 123 Third Ave. sales office may be closed, but the penthouse sales live on

The 123 gang moved out of their 10th Street office last month.

Dunno if the $3.6 million is noticeable enough. May I suggest putting it in neon?

Perhaps the new 123 marketing materials should now also mention the proximity to IHOP.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Tompkins Square Park dog run loses a tree — unnecessarily so?

Following the storms that passed through last Thursday evening... EV Grieve reader Allen Semanco emailed us this photo showing a downed limb at the Tompkins Square Park dog run...

Now, EV Grieve reader Wayne Embacher gives us this shot from today. Workers have removed the entire tree.

Perhaps there was more to the problem than a broken limb. Still. As Wayne notes, "One branch falls and the rest of the very healthy, mature, and GREEN tree goes. Unnecessary." Agreed.