Pool at Sophie's, 1988

Been awhile since we posted any photos by Michael Sean Edwards ... So! Here are a few from Sophie's circa 1988....




He has several more here on Flickr.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The East Village in photos from 1978-1985

Posts that I actually forgot to post: Warren the Ape slanders Warren

These are all around... saw them last weekend... and, uh, forgot to post...

So hot

On the Bowery. Hot Cheese Nachos. Perhaps the name of the band that I will never form.

Hope that AT&T's "more bars" campaign won't be used here

EV Grieve reader Michael Fivis notes the progress of the incoming AT&T store next to Lulu's Nail Salon on First Avenue and St. Mark's Place...

NYU's future ...rated T for Terrifying

Thanks to EV Grieve reader Lisa for this link from NY1.

See NYU's proposed future here.

(Fixed the links!)

Your August 2011 -- planned!

East Village Feed and several readers have pointed out the new teaser for the upcoming Smurfs movie.... which comes out in August 2011. Plan accordingly. No sign of the East Village yet....

Group doesn't want street fairs to suck as badly as they do

From the inbox!

Concluding that the vast majority of New York City street fairs are bland and repetitive, and in need of wholesale changes, the Center for an Urban Future today published a report that features ideas for improving these staples of summer from two dozen innovative New Yorkers, including the founders of successful markets like the New York City Greenmarket, Union Square Holiday Market, Brooklyn Flea and Chelsea Market.

The study, titled “New Visions for New York Street Fairs,” starts from the premise that the city’s current system of street fairs desperately need a makeover. It argues that large numbers of New Yorkers are dissatisfied with street fairs for a variety of reasons: there are so many of them that they quickly blend together (there were 321 of them in 2009); a majority of the vendors sell the same bland merchandise, such as tube socks, sunglasses and gyros; a handful of neighborhoods are inundated by the fairs, with a new one popping up almost every week; and with nearly a dozen street fairs on some weekends, the multiple street closures make driving or taking a cab through the city a nightmare. The study seeks to jumpstart a discussion about how to make these public events less generic, more interesting and better reflective of what’s unique about New York.

“New York’s street fairs have been a disappointment for too long,” says Jonathan Bowles, director of the Center for an Urban Future, a Manhattan-based think tank. “It’s time to throw out the cookie-cutter approach and create street fairs that better reflect this incredibly unique and diverse city. There’s no reason to see the same vendors selling tube socks and gyros at almost every fair when New York has so many one-of-a-kind entrepreneurs and artists.”

A PDF of the full report is available here (PDF)

Looking at affordable homes in the East Village

A reader said that while she enjoyed gawking at the pricy condos with over-the-top amenities that I list on EV Grieve, I would be providing a valuble service by listing more affordble homes.

That's a good idea. So let's take a look!
























OK. I couldn't find any. Price is subjective, of course. Still. Not many or any bargains around.

The New York of "News From Home"

I recently watched "Chantal Akerman in the Seventies," a five-film set from the Belgian director... I'd recommend all five films... but, of special interest, is "News From Home," a 1977 feature that stars the desolate streets of Manhattan...

Dave Kehr wrote a feature on this collection for the Times back in January ... and Kehr summarizes the film nicely:

"News From Home: has a crowded soundtrack consisting of city sounds blended with Ms. Akerman's own voice, reading increasingly imploring letters from her mother back home in Belgium... we gradually become able to infer a story — this time, of a young woman’s growing autonomy and escape from the past.

Like William Friedkin's "French Connection," "News From Home" has, with time, become a documentary on New York in the 1970s. Lingering shots of pre-gentrified downtown neighborhoods, graffiti-slathered subway cars and the little village of shops and stands that once filled the Times Square station now carry a sense of impermanence and inaccessibility, of a world receding into the past, just as notions of "home" have receded for the unseen protagonist.

There's a scene shot in front of Veselka on Second Avenue and Ninth Street... and here are a few screenshots... You can see the St. Marks Cinema marquee in the background...





And here's a clip of this scene...

More on the Gaelic gastro pub coming to Avenue A; Forbidden City's renewal denied

So, as I was saying, the CB3/SLA committee granted the transfer of Al Diwan's liquor license to Percy's Tavern on Avenue A and 13th Street Monday night...

The Percy's folks were turned down last month...However, they returned with a stronger concept and better community outreach. The owner, Larry Watson, has lived in the East Village for 25 years, arriving here in 1986 to work as a building super on 11th Street and Second Avenue...

Watson handed out packets to those sitting around him... inside was all the background information a blogger neighbor would want... According to his bio, he moved here as a single father and raised four children, all of whom attended PS 19 on 11th Street... Per the bio: "I love this neighborhood and would never do anything to compromise all the years and continued effort that was put into our neighborhood. I have supported Father Pat Moloney and St. Brigid's with cleaning up and maintaining this area."

His mission for Percy's, which is named for 19th-century entertainer William Percy French: "To become such a vital part of the community that Percy's will be the standard."

The chef was on hand, and he said that he aspires to be like Northern Spy around the corner on 12th Street. And he mysteriously wouldn't name the Michelin-starred restaurant where he currently works out of fear of losing that job. (Watson said everyone will be suitably impressed when they hear where he worked.)

In a letter to the CB3, the president of the 13th Street Block Association gave Percy's a rousing endorsement, citing his community outreach and promise to be a good neighbor. Among other things, he vows to close the sidewalk doors at 10 p.m. nightly while the sidewalk tables will be removed at 11 p.m.

Looking at the menu now... bar snacks include pork skins...smoked mackerel on rye... pork cheeks on toast for lunch...they'll also be open for brunch on weekends...

-----

Meanwhile on Monday night... Forbidden City, right next door to Al Diwan on Avenue A, was up for a renewal of their liquor license ... Committee chair Alexandra Militano mentioned that CB3 had just received more than 20 additional complaints about Forbidden City, ranging from patrons making noise, obstructing the sidewalk, drinking outside, vomiting, peeing, etc., etc.

Plenty of nearby neighbors were there to speak out against Forbidden City, which is on the ground level of a multi-use building. Said one 22-year resident: "It has totally destroyed the quality of life in the neighborhood." She said that she made it a point to be in by 10 p.m. on a Saturday to avoid the crowds along that stretch of Avenue A... One resident said the patrons were "sketchy characters" and the place was, overall, "really unbearable."

One of Forbidden City's upstair's neighbors recalled the night last summer in which the bar's off-duty bouncer, Eric "Taz" Pagan was murdered... The resident recalled the horrific imagery of seeing paramedics trying to revive Pagan on the sidewalk. "The scene was just horrible. My daughter asked me what happened. I couldn't tell her. I lied and said that it was some roadside repairs."

(Committee members and the Forbidden City reps said the shooting had noting to do with the bar.)

During all this, three representatives from Forbidden City stood there rather awkwardly, waiting for their turn to speak. And when it came time to talk, well, they seemed a little disorganized and defensive. Several of the neighbors talked about the bar's recent DJ competitions, which have drawn huge crowds. The bar reps foolishly tired to describe exactly what this is ... "It's not a competition ... it's a DJ showcase." Ah, well!

The bar manager said that this was his first managerial experience... the owner asked the committee for their advice on how to keep the sidewalks clear... everyone got a lecture from Militano, from the residents who waited until right before the meeting to register complaints... to the Forbidden City management for failing to be proactive.

After nearly of an hour of all this, the committee denied Forbidden City's request for a renewal... it now goes to the full CB3 board on June 22...

-----

I bailed after nearly four hours and four items... there were nearly 30 more on the agenda... Eater correspondent Gabe Ulla gamely stayed until the wee hours...

As he reported for Eater:

* There was plenty debate for SRO... the grotesquely named new eatery proposed for the former SRO at the Bowery and Stanton... "the board wasn't exactly fond of Olsen naming a swank wine bar in an actual SRO building -- SRO ... But like the board concluded in the end, it's a changing neighborhood and there's little they can do to stop that." Approved! (Read BoweryBoogie's coverage of this place here.)

* A new eatery was approved for 40 Avenue B, the short-lived Dominican restaurant Chabela's. The place will be called Little Printz Cafe, a "global Jewish" restaurant that will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

* In other items from Eater, One and One and Spina were approved for sidewalk cafes while TKettle on St. Mark's Place was denied their beer/wine upgrade.

Previously on EV Grieve:
CB3 deadlocked over new "fast-food Italian" at former Graceland space; 7-Eleven next?

Hey, what's for dinner?

Just looking at the floor-to-ceiling goodness of the Copper Building on Avenue B and 13th Street... these appear to be the model homes for prospective homesteaders...




Well, I hope the new residents get curtains or something before anyone moves in... or will we always be treated to a show?

Meanwhile, across the street from the Copper Building...

A newish ad for 13th Street at Avenue B...



... was this based on market research for incoming Copper Building residents...?

Imagining Avenue A and Second Street with a 7-Eleven

OK, this is half-assed Photoshopping at its finest... still... just trying to wrap my head around this... picking up on the vigorous debate from yesterday (thank you to everyone for the spirited comments)... As you know, EV Italian eatery guru Frank Prisinzano said on Monday night that the landlord of the former Graceland space on Avenue A and Second Street had four prospective tenants: Frank's fast-food Italian joint, a bank, a 7-Eleven and a bank.

Of course it's very possible this was just a scare tactic... still, given 7-Eleven's recent emergence in Manahattan, it's probable. (As The Real Deal reported, the chain is planning on opening 100-150 new locations in the five boroughs inthe coming few years.)

Regardless, Prisinzano's dream of another outpost isn't dead despite the CB3/SLA committee's deadlock Monday night -- the full CB3 will hear this whole thing again next week.

There are no easy answers here... Jill puts it into some perspective in the comments about life with another Frank here:

The issue with that space is that it is huge, not that anybody thinks it will become a bar. He also put in for a sidewalk cafe ... I believe the total occupancy quoted was 190. That's a hell of a lot of people to bring to that corner all at the same time, with loads of turnover ("5-10 minute wait for fast food.") Do the math -- potentially 1,000 people coming in there every night if it's truly an in and out kind of place that is successful. Crikeys.

Indeed. I imagine the new suitor for this prime space will remain a hot topic this summer... is there any compromise?

Imagining Avenue A and Second Street with ... oh STOP IT!

A campaign against Dogs Tied Up

I received a note the other day from an EV Grieve reader who has had enough with seeing unattended dogs tied up around the neighborhood (and other parts of the city) ... The resident, who also works in the East Village, has dogs of his or her own... and, well, here's some background:

"My biggest pet peeve is people who tie their dogs up to fire hydrants, parking meters, lamp posts and such. While they do their shopping, dining, drinking -- what have you. They think they are 'multitasking' but in reality they are subjecting their beloved family pets to thievery, abuse and death."

So the resident started a blog dedicated to tied-up pups... appropriately titled Dogs Tied Up NYC. (There's also a Facebook page.)

"From here on out I will be taking photos of dogs that I see tied up. And I will sit and wait until their owners show up. And they will be riddled with questions as to why they left their family pet tied up unattended. They will not have a legit answer, cause there is NO excuse."

[I took the top photo outside Cotto Cafe on Avenue C and Eighth Street earlier this summer.]

World Keg fever at Nevada Smith's

Yesterday evening after Brazil-North Korea...

Why you might hear a tape-bow violin coming from the Cooper Square Hotel penthouse tonight

An EV Grieve reader passed this along...

On June 16, there will be a listening party for Laurie Anderson's HOMELAND, her first studio album in 10 years. Nonesuch releases it June 22. This will take place in the Penthouse of the Cooper Square Hotel, as part of the Annie
O Music Series. Laurie will briefly perform.

Anyway, you'll see plenty more of Anderson this summer, like this Saturday with Lou Reed at the Coney Island Mermaind Parade... and July 14 on Letterman...

$85 the easy way: Looking for a speed-dating spy

An ad appeared on Craigslist that captured my attention... However, the author quickly removed the ad... luckily I found it elsewhere...

Spy Needed. Females only please. (Lower East Side)

There will be a speed dating event, and I am worried my soon to be fiance will be attending. I'm not the jealous type that normally does this, but since I'm about to take a big step of giving her a ring, I need to make sure. Your job will simply be to stand in front of this restaurant and look for her arrival. That's it. IF you can get inside and get a snapshot of her in the act of "speed dating" I would pay an extra $50. Offering $85 for this because it should not take you more than 1 hour. The location and time will be disclosed to you.

Always wonder if these are real... are someone's testing the plot to a made-for-Lifetime movie...

13th Street, 8:08 p.m., June 15

Noted

"A rodent expert says half of lower Manhattan’s train lines are either infested with rats or show conditions ripe for attracting them." (The Associated Press, via the New York Post)

MTA will get the L out of there

A follow-up to the post over the weekend about the MTA's new FML signs... Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo reported yesterday that the MTA will change the sign...

"I guarantee you the people who install the signs have absolutely no idea what that [phrase] means," said NYC Transit spokesman Charles Seaton, noting that the new sign will display the letter L below the F and M.

No word yet on the JZ line.

[Top image via Gothamist; FML image via Digitalisms. Thanks to Digitalisms for getting this whole thing out there!]

Another brown out: Verizon battles graffiti artists, take two

Back in April, workers painted over all the delicious tags on the Verizon building on 13th Street and Second Avenue... Then, in May, there was an epic bout of tagging...

So, yesterday, Verizon once again had workers paint the 13th Street wall brown... and as these photos courtesy of EV Grieve reader evilnyc show, the brown paint was barely dry before the building was tagged again...






Previously on EV Grieve:
First tag reappears on the Verizon building

Brownout: Verizon building graffiti painted over

Green day: Second Avenue getting its bike lanes

Meanwhile, evilnyc also took shots of the new bike lanes coming to Second Avenue....

CB3 deadlocked over new "fast-food Italian" at former Graceland space; 7-Eleven next?

Last night, Frank Prisinzano, who owns EV Italian empire Frank, Lil' Frankie's and Supper, came before the CB3/SLA committee with his plans to turn the former Graceland grocery at Second Street and Avenue A into what he described as fast-food Italian.

Nearly 75 minutes of serious high drama later, the committee was deadlocked in its decision to grant Prisinzano a beer and wine license.

Prisinzano started with his concept. He called it "a simple Italian cafeteria" and "quick, easy volume." Menu items would range from $5.95 to $10.95... most food would be prepped to serve in a hurry, with no more than a five or 10-minute wait. People could be in and out for a meal in 45 minutes or less.

And there would be a separate to-go kitchen. And it would be all eco-friendly. With plenty of soundproofing, per the lease, which he has yet to sign. "I want to give the community inexpensive Italian," he said. "I'm hoping this becomes a neighborhood staple like my other places." And! "This is not a nightclub. This is not a bar."

In total, the new eatery would accommodate 190 people, including 75 seats in a sidewalk cafe along the 50-plus feet of Avenue A storefront. This space is currently twice the size of any one of his other eateries.

And he had two last things to say (for now)... "We need help with our fast food in this country. This is my attempt at it."

Then he went in for the kill. Prisinzano said the landlord is currently weighing three other offers: A bank, a 7-Eleven and a bank.

Shudder!

Then some residents spoke. A common theme emerged: Hell. One longtime resident said Avenue A between Third Street and Houston is hell Thursday through Saturday nights. "We hear people vomit," the resident said. "It's a little row of hell." Most residents who spoke mentioned Aces & Eights as the main culprit.

The resident said that she and some of her neighbors have all learned a dance "where we pray for rain [on weekends] to douse the crowds."

It was also mentioned that Supper has had issues with crowd control on Second Street in the past. Prisinzano said that he is getting more "militant" about crowd control. For instance, he has installed video cameras outside all three of his restaurants so that he can monitor the situation from his computer. He said that he can discipline the host or hostess if he or she doesn't help keep the crowds in check. "Now I have accountability," he said. "Big Brother is in the sky."

Susan Stetzer, district manager of CB3 and a nearby resident, also spoke out against the planned restaurant.

"It will just be hell," she said. "I don't see the benefit" for the community. There was some back and forth. She kept with the hell theme. "We just cannot take more people on that street. It's hell." And! "We're begging you not to have another [bar] on this block. It's just hell."

Prisinzano reiterated that this space won't be a bar; that he will serve inexpensive food and will be a good neighborhood. As for this stretch of Avenue A, he said "that block is full of shitty bars." (Perhaps he didn't realize that committee member David McWater, who was sitting a few feet from him, owns several bars on that block.)

So, he was pretty much approve this or, "otherwise you're going to get a bank or a 7-Eleven. Your choice."

Stetzer said that she was tired of people telling her and other residents what will be good for the neighborhood.

At some point Prisinzano said, "I'm not Aces & Eights."

Eventually committee chair Alexandra Militano threatened to make Prisinzano and Stetzer leave the meeting if they spoke up one more time.

There was more debate among the committee members. Militano said that she hasn't heard the end of it from residents ever since the committee approved the transfer of Aces & Eights from Mo Pitkins. There was an argument about motions to pass along to the State Liquor Authority between Militano and McWater, who told her, "I was dealing with the SLA while you were still in law school."

In the end, 75 minutes later, the committee was deadlocked in their vote. Prisinzano looked incredulous. The whole thing will be kicked to the full CB3 meeting on June 22

Previously on EV Grieve:
"All uses considered" at former Graceland

Owners of Frank-Lil' Frankie's-Supper taking over the former Graceland space

More here.

On second thought: No to the fishmonger for Avenue A

At the April CB3/SLA meeting, the committee approved a full-liquor license (within a resolution area) for Keith Masco's seafood market/restaurant/high-end cocktail bar at 171 Avenue A.

As you'll recall, Masco will sell fresh fish in the front of the space during the day ... with room for 48 diners in the back along with a bar selling specialty cocktails. He also has plans to utilize the 400-square-foot garden in the back. (Forgot to mention what the place would be called: Sea on A.)

However, the full CB3 rejected the plans. So it was back to the CB3/SLA last night ... and Masco returned with more signatures of support... and he said he will expand his retail counter from 9 feet to 15 feet to show that he will be a retail operation, selling fresh fish from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Again, while people generally like the idea of a fishmonger in the neighborhood, the opposition remains... residents do not want another liquor license on this section of Avenue A. There are now six of nine storefronts on Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street that sell beer, wine or liquor. This would make seven. One longtime resident spoke about the importance of having retail diversity, not just bars and restaurants. The density of bars is creating an unhealthy balance in the neighborhood.

Michael Rosen, a founder of the East Village Community Coalition, was also on hand to speak out against another liquor license. He discussed how the saturation of bars changes the nature of the community.

There were petitions with signatures for and against the application. People spoke passionately for and against the application.

In the end, the committee rejected Masco's application after approving it two months earlier.

Previously on EV Grieve:
CB3/SLA highlights: Avenue A fishmonger approved; Michael Huynh's DOB rejected

Also! Gaelic gastro pub OK'd for Avenue A

Last night's CB3/SLA Licensing Committee meeting seemed longer than usual... by 10 p.m., the group had gotten through four of the 30-plus items on the agenda...

There were a few last-minute scratches, including:

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
26. Spitzer's Corner (LES Gastro LLC), 101 Rivington St (trans/op) (NYLA Cafe LLC)

However, we did hear the presentation for Percy's Tavern, a "Gaelic gastro pub" that was OK'd to take over the Al Diwan space at 13th Street and Avenue A. The Percy's folks were turned down last month...However, they returned with a stronger concept and better community outreach. The owner, Larry Watson, has lived in the East Village for 25 years, arriving here in 1986 to work as a building super on 11th Street and Second Avenue... We'll have more on Percy's later...

Mosaic Man rebuilding on Sixth Street and Second Avenue

Two weeks ago, we were wondering if the Mosiac Man was calling it quits on refurbishing his mosiac trail around the neighborhood... as this note spotted last evening on the sidewalk at Second Avenue and Sixth Street would indicate, he's planning on rebuilding, though he could use some financial assistance...




Previously on EV Grieve:
More on the Mosaic Man removing his mosaics

Mosaic removal on St. Mark's Place?

Another Housing Court meeting for Whitehouse Hotel tenants

Previously on EV Grieve:
More tenant meetings for White House residents; plus the bed bugs will be exterminated

Hello from tonight's CB3/SLA meeting!

After taking nearly 140 minutes to get through the first two items on tonight's agenda, CB3/SLA committee member David McWater noted that, at this rate, the meeting will last more than 31 hours.

See you Wednesday afternoon!

East Village getting a 60,000- to 70,000-square-foot residential building?

Yowza... a reader just sent along a Q-and-A from the Times with developer Donald Capoccia, a managing principal and founder of BFC Partners, whose projects include the monstrosities Toren in downtown Brooklyn and Schaefer Landing, a three-building waterfront complex in Williamsburg.

This is the passage that we Yowza'd about:

Q. What else is in the pipeline?

A. We have an East Village property. It’s going to be a 60,000- to 70,000-square-foot building. We’re also looking at a hotel deal in Kennedy Airport — this would be our first hotel. Kennedy, believe it or not, does not have any hotels that offer significant conference space.

Whoa! What? Where?!

To be continued....

Lost City tribute

As you may know, Brooks of Sheffield is retiring from active duty at his excellent Lost City blog. You can read his farewell here.

Jeremiah's Vanishing New York, Neither More Nor Less and Lost City served as part of my inspiration for launching EV Grieve in December 2007.

Now, two of those sites have called it a day... All this has made me think about my own blog mortality.

[Moment of silence]

Anyway! Meanwhile, I think I'll apply for a liquor license with a sidewalk cafe.

As a tribute to a lost and vanishing part of the city ... I revisited a post of mine from November 2008 ... Here's Donohue's Steak House, 845 Lexington Ave. near 64th Street, which opened in 1950... an-all-too-rare classic that's still open....





Previously on EV Grieve:
The timeless appeal of Donohue's Steak House

A few scenes from the first weekend of the World Cup

As I exclusively reported, the 2010 World Cup started last Friday... and, even if you weren't interested in the games, you likely happened upon some kind of soccer-inspired scene in the East Village...

Starting with the World Cup Capital, Nevada Smith's... where a police officer was watching the line entering for the Argentina-Nigeria match...





Outside Zum Schnieder on Avenue C and Seventh Street before the start of the Germany-Australia match yesterday afternoon... line stretched halfway down the block...




Outside Karma on First Avenue near Fourth Street on Friday ... where Uruguay fans/citizens might want to talk to whomever created the chalkboard sign...



U-R-Gay?



On St. Mark's Place... after South Korea's 2-0 victory over Greece...




Meanwhile, thanks to EV Grieve reader Blue Glass for the following photos... Blue Glass was walking on Third Avenue prior to the start of the U.S.-England match, and witnessed the crowds waiting to get into Nevada Smith's and the Village Pourhouse on Saturday afternoon ... (good thing Third Avenue was blocked off for the street festival...)