And the final product, via EV Grieve reader MP, who started off all this coverage today... A few people believe that this is the first one not only in the neighborhood, but also in the city (haven't verified this, but...)
Previously.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Here's your new East Ninth Street bike rack
Let's take a quick look at the bicycle parking rack that the DOT installed this morning in front of MUD on East Ninth Street... via EV Grieve reader Robert...
And the final product, via EV Grieve reader MP, who started off all this coverage today... A few people believe that this is the first one not only in the neighborhood, but also in the city (haven't verified this, but...)
Previously.
And the final product, via EV Grieve reader MP, who started off all this coverage today... A few people believe that this is the first one not only in the neighborhood, but also in the city (haven't verified this, but...)
Previously.
For rent signs going up at Kate's Joint; and here come the Starbucks rumors
EV Grieve reader Sam sends along these photos from this afternoon... for rent signs are going up at Kate's Joint on East Fourth Street and Avenue B, making the closure here permanent. Yesterday, the landlord took possession of the 16-year-old vegetarian restaurant. Regulars were hopeful that owner Kate Halpern would be able to reopen.
Meanwhile, a reliable tipster sends along this
Also, there's word that the landlord did offer to decrease the rent for Kate's by $2,000 a month.
Previously.
[Updated] DOT installing CityRacks in front of MUD on East Ninth Street
EV Grieve reader MP sends along these photos from this morning... DOT workers are currently installing one of those sidewalk bicycle parking racks in front of MUD Coffee on East Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...
MP mentions that this might be one of the first that the DOT has installed in the city... and that the MUD folks have been advocating for this...
Here's info about CityRacks via the DOT website:
Also, the rack will be attached on the street taking a parking space in front of the store. Perhaps a better placement for it given how busy MUD can get on a weekend...
Updated:
New photo via @bomarrblog ...
MP mentions that this might be one of the first that the DOT has installed in the city... and that the MUD folks have been advocating for this...
Here's info about CityRacks via the DOT website:
CityRacks are free sidewalk bicycle parking racks, placed throughout New York City by DOT. They to encourage cycling for commuting, short trips and errands. CityRacks accommodate all types of bicycles and locks. CityRacks are not intended to be used for long-term parking.
Also, the rack will be attached on the street taking a parking space in front of the store. Perhaps a better placement for it given how busy MUD can get on a weekend...
Updated:
New photo via @bomarrblog ...
A bigger Bean coming now to 147 First Ave.
Last August, we first reported that the Bean would open an outpost on First Avenue at Ninth Street, home once to Anjelica's Herbs. At the time, the Bean planned on just taking the corner location. The smaller space on East Ninth Street remained for rent.
However, the Bean's Ike Escava told us that they ended up leasing the adjacent storefront as well, and they will combine the two. He said that the work will begin next week, with a June opening in mind.
Escava also said that he will commission Jim Power, who created mosaics for the Bean's Second Avenue location, to do more art for the new cafe ... along with other artists, including Nicolina.
Meanwhile, no word yet on when the upstairs will be ready for residential use. And hey — it was just two years ago that workers said they were putting in a motel here.
Another mosaic painted over; an 'Avenue Arihood' pole in the works
Speaking of Jim Power... a reader passed along the above photo... someone had recently painted over the mosaics at the base of the street lamp at the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Avenue A.
Not the first time that this has happened here. In May 2010, a reader noticed that someone had coated the base with gray paint. So the reader took it upon himself to Zip Strip it.
In any event, upon hearing this most recent news, Power said "just one more to rebuild," before noting that the mosaics on Avenue A and Seventh Street needed work. On that topic, Power said that he's planning to create an "Avenue Arihood" pole on the northwest corner ("Bob's corner") in honor of the late Bob Arihood.
11-17 Second Ave. breaks ground level
Was just a hole in the ground here at East First Street the other day... now, there's an elevation (of sorts) ...
Photos by Bobby Williams.
Coming soon. A 12-story apartment building. Previously.
Photos by Bobby Williams.
Coming soon. A 12-story apartment building. Previously.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
[Updated] Marshal seizes Kate's Joint
Word is spreading through the neighborhood this afternoon that the landlord has seized Kate's Joint on Avenue B and East Fourth Street. The legal document on the door is dated today. This shouldn't be a complete shocker. There was an Indiegogo campaign last month to help the 16-year-old vegetarian eatery with expenses.
Per the campaign:
Unfortunately, with the changing neighborhood and economic recession Kate’s Joint has seen a fall in business and rise in costs. Kate is currently in arrears with the landlord. Eviction notices have been sent, court appearances have been made, and if a substantial amount of money is not raised by April 11th, the next court date, the doors will shut permanently at Kate’s Joint. The East Village will lose another neighborhood landmark.
Kate's fell short of its $30,000 goal — raising just $5,000 during the campaign.
We hope to have more information soon. Perhaps Kate will be able to reopen soon. Maybe even start serving meat ...
Updated:
A reader sends along a few more photos...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Save Kate's Joint on Avenue B
Restaurant that never opened on Avenue B looking like a restaurant again
Back in June 2009, we noted that Caffe Buon Gusto was opening an outpost on Avenue B and East Fifth Street... CBG, as we never called it, was on the CB3/SLA docket a few times... but nothing ever happened with the space, which became, at times, a makeshift shelter and a canvas.
In fact, it is almost one year to the date since we last saw the gates open... Until this afternoon. A reader walked by a bit ago and was surprised to find the gates up and the lights on inside... Perhaps the space is back from the dead? Anyone with details on what's happening here?
More items from last night's CB3/SLA meeting: New eatery OK'd for Nice Guy Eddie's space
Meanwhile, according to Hannah Leighton at Eater, Team Andre Balazs withdrew plans to discuss a revamped Standard East Village until next month's meeting.
In addition, the committee approved the transfer of assets from Nice Guy Eddie's on Avenue A at Houston/East First Street to an entity called Downtown Dining LLC led by Darin Rubell of the Gallery Bar. Plans call for a restaurant serving "American comfort food." An EV Grieve tipster noted that Rubell was noncommittal about keeping the Kiss mural on the restaurant's south wall along East First Street.
Read the rest of Eater's coverage here. ... and The Lo-Down.
Still no sign of construction at the David Schwimmer estate
On the afternoon of April 3, the DOB issued a Stop Work Order at 331 E. Sixth St., the future six-floor home of David Schwimmer. (DNAinfo reported that a piece of debris "caromed off a scaffold" and struck a passerby, who EMTs took to Bellevue with a minor arm injury.)
And now, 10 work days later... there's still no sign of the full work crew as of this morning. According to the DOB website, the city lifted the Stop Work Order to allow workers to address the specific problems — "missing guardrails, openings at egress, housekeeping, and interior scaffold no permits."
In recent days, we've spotted two or three workers at the site to take care of these issues.
[Photo last week by Bobby Williams]
The DOB website notes that there are seven open violations/non-compliance issues at the address.
In any event, you can see that the construction site looks more secure.
On April 4. the morning after the city issued the Stop Work Order:
Today:
Not that residents miss the construction. Back in January, one neighbor called the work "insanely noisy."
And now, 10 work days later... there's still no sign of the full work crew as of this morning. According to the DOB website, the city lifted the Stop Work Order to allow workers to address the specific problems — "missing guardrails, openings at egress, housekeeping, and interior scaffold no permits."
In recent days, we've spotted two or three workers at the site to take care of these issues.
The DOB website notes that there are seven open violations/non-compliance issues at the address.
In any event, you can see that the construction site looks more secure.
On April 4. the morning after the city issued the Stop Work Order:
Today:
Not that residents miss the construction. Back in January, one neighbor called the work "insanely noisy."
Hellbound and down
This past Friday, Stacie Joy began a photo shoot with Samantha Clark (left) and Amanda Whip. The first stop was on the sidewalk on East 10th Street near Avenue A... which happens to be beside The St. Nicholas of Myra Church.
Quickly enough, a priest came out and, well, started yelling for them to leave. Despite being on a public sidewalk, Stacie and company packed it up "so as not to offend him further."
Anyway, probably no more randy than the scenes "Gossip Girl" filmed at the church back in October 2010...
A sidewalk shed for historic 106 Avenue C
Yesterday, workers arrived on Seventh Street and Avenue C to erect a sidewalk shed... usually not newsy, but this address is worth noting — 106 Avenue C.
[Photos by Matt LES_Miserable]
In September 2008, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated this address as a landmark, according to an article in The Villager. Some history from the article:
Anyway, given the landmark status, nothing too drastic can happen here (we think!) ... There isn't much information about the job on the DOB website — "INSTALLATION OF 106 LINEAR FEET OF HEAVY DUTY SIDEWALK SHED FOR BUILDING ALTERATION."
And later last night...
The address is particularly notable for its entrance. Here's how the LPC described it back in 2008 (PDF):
The corner entrance was filled in through the years ...
[Wikipedia Commons]
And here it is (sorry about the quality of the photo) in 1939...
...and 1983...
...and almost present day...
[Top three photos via the LPC]
In September 2008, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated this address as a landmark, according to an article in The Villager. Some history from the article:
The two-story Public National Bank of New York was completed in 1923 ... It was designed by Eugene Schoen, who was the architect for other Public National Bank branches, which totaled 30 in 1928 and had $135 million in deposits.
Schoen, a New York City native, studied in Vienna with Josef Hoffmann, a founder in the late 1890s of the Viennese Secessionist school, which broke away from the prevailing academic and historic style of art and architecture.
The Public National Bank, later known as the Tompkins Square Bank, closed the Avenue C branch in 1954 and merged the following year with Bankers Trust.
Originally two stories, an intermediate floor was added between the first and second floors when the building was converted in 1954 to a nursing home. In the 1980s the Avenue C building was converted to apartments.
Anyway, given the landmark status, nothing too drastic can happen here (we think!) ... There isn't much information about the job on the DOB website — "INSTALLATION OF 106 LINEAR FEET OF HEAVY DUTY SIDEWALK SHED FOR BUILDING ALTERATION."
And later last night...
The address is particularly notable for its entrance. Here's how the LPC described it back in 2008 (PDF):
The entrance is surmounted by notable polychrome Viennese-inspired terra cotta ornament in the form of a decorative band above which is a cartouche with a wreath of fruit (which originally held a clock) above an eagle, flanked by curvilinear forms and decorative urns.
The corner entrance was filled in through the years ...
And here it is (sorry about the quality of the photo) in 1939...
...and 1983...
...and almost present day...
[Top three photos via the LPC]
Southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street is up for grabs
The retail space on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street — currently home to Brothers Deli and Dryden Gallery — is for lease...
...which might be why Brothers never fixed their sign...
Here's the listing at RKF ... looks as if they're pushing for retail...
The listing includes the currently vacant space behind the deli on 13th Street...
Meanwhile, the new Hyatt Union Square will be opening across the street one of these days...
...which might be why Brothers never fixed their sign...
Here's the listing at RKF ... looks as if they're pushing for retail...
The listing includes the currently vacant space behind the deli on 13th Street...
Meanwhile, the new Hyatt Union Square will be opening across the street one of these days...
Monday, April 16, 2012
CB3/SLA committee approves Joe's to Josie's change on East Sixth Street
Only one item to note from tonight's CB3/SLA committee meeting... we understand that the committee has approved a license for Josie's to open in the space that last housed longtime favorite Joe's Bar on East Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Richard Corton and his business partner Kirk Marcoe, who own Mona's and Sophie's, signed a lease and sales contract for the space last month. Proprietor Joe Vajda, who opened the bar at this address in 1973, died last November. (Joe's longtime partner Dottie requested that they not use his name for the bar.)
Corton has said that they aren't expecting to modify much about the space. Corton and Marcoe are eyeing a July opening.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Joe's Bar is joining the Sophie's-Mona's family
FAKE LETTER suggests that NYU taking over 41 Cooper Square in 2015
Updated: Ha. We saw this item below on Gothamist and quickly linked to it. However, after we posted it, Gothamist had an update: Turns out the whole thing is a fake. So. With that in mind. Here is the original post ... keep in mind the whole thing is some kind of prank...Cooper Union President Jamshed Bharucha announced today that the school is going to lease out its newish 41 Cooper Square to NYU's Polytechnic Institute, according to a post on Gothamist.
Gothamist is citing a letter from Bharucha that reads, in part:
Beginning in academic year 2015, The Cooper Union will lease its recently completed New Academic Building at 41 Cooper Square to NYU-Poly to ensure $20 million in new revenue annually by 2018, putting our institution on a sustainable path for the future while maintaining reverence for its past.
The 41 Cooper Square has been, for the community, a reminder of past ill-planning and fiduciary neglect. We have, and must continue, to live within the means provided to us in order to preserve Peter Cooper's innovative social mission. We shall not falter in this regard.
In the coming weeks, I will be appointing a Relocation Task Force comprised of engineering faculty, alumni, students, and industry leaders who will be charged with locating an ideal, alternative site for the Albert N. Nerken School of Engineering and the School of Art studios in one of New York's neighboring boroughs. This bold plan of relocation will not be without contention, so we are launching cooperrelocation.info as an information hub and receptacle for community opinion.
As an administrator, it is my understanding that generosity begets generosity, and so, as a first goodwill gesture to the community, I am also announcing a relocation of my own. The President's Residency at the landmark 21 Stuyvesant St. will be moving to the Cooper Union's academic housing at 29 3rd Avenue. Known as the Stuyvesant-Fish House, No. 21 was built by Petrus Stuyvesant, great-grandson of Peter-Stuyvesant, in 1803, and gifted to the Cooper Union. Per its intended use, No. 21 will be promptly leased to generate further revenue for the preservation of our institution.
Notes Gothamist: "Guess the stories about Cooper Union being broke were true."
Weekend recap: Lakeside Lounge is closing after April 30
On Saturday, we posted a report from New York Music Daily that the Lakeside Lounge on Avenue B at East 10th Street is closing at the end of the month.
Trixie, who owns the vintage photo booth in the bar (and ran Live Shop Die on East 13th and later Avenue A), left this comment on our post:
I own the photobooth at Lakeside Lounge and am saddened as any of you by the news of its closing. I'm going to try and find a place for it right here in the East Village though so that everyone can continue to enjoy it. I've lived on e 12th Street since 1978 and I'd really like to keep the booth in the neighborhood. In the meantime though, come on down, the bar is open until the end of the month and the photobooth is ready and waiting to take your picture!
Anyone?
Reminders: CB3/SLA meeting tonight; what is Nice Guy Eddie's future?
CB3's SLA Licensing Committee meets tonight at 6:30 — JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth St. at the Bowery. We looked at the agenda here. The full docket is here.
Here's a recap of a few of the more interesting items on the docket:
• Major alterations are in store for the public spaces at the Standard East Village (April 12)
• 34 Avenue A is now off this month's CB3/SLA docket (April 9)
• Joe's Bar is joining the Sophie's-Mona's family (March 29)
Meanwhile, it looks as if Nice Guy Eddie's run on Avenue A at East First Street is coming to an end. (As far as we know, CB3 member Dave McWater is still involved with the current ownership of Eddie's.)
An entity called Downtown Dining LLC is looking to open a restaurant in this space, according to documents on file at the CB3 website (PDF).
The applicant's paperwork doesn't mention anyone by name. However, in the section about principals having other businesses in this area... three are listed: Tower Brokerage, Ella and The Gallery Bar...
Knowing that Josh Boyd is a principal at Ella and The Gallery Bar, I sent him a message via Facebook about the Nice Guy Eddie's space... Boyd responded that he isn't involved with the new venture; that his partner Darin Rubell is.
Rubell, who's related to Studio 54 owner Steve Rubell, is also the founder of Mercadito on Avenue B.
In any event, at this point, I don't have any other details on the venture... no word on the fate of Chico's Kiss mural either...
One reason why there were police barricades outside the Starbucks on Astor Place yesterday
Several news photos related to the events Saturday night outside the Astor Place Starbucks show police barricades alongside the store... such as this one in DNAinfo...
The accompanying caption notes, "The Starbucks on Astor Place with police barricades in front on April 15, 2012." (The Daily News published a similar photo.)
Yes, those are police barricades. However, it's unclear from any media accounts or live tweets whether police actually used the barricades Saturday in the skirmish that led to the arrest of three men.
However, one thing is certain about the police barricades... the NYPD used them earlier on Saturday for an Astor Place street fair.
Crews likely stacked up the barricades after the street fair ended early Saturday evening for pick up later.
This doesn't change what transpired on Saturday night... but there is a difference between using the barricades to block off an intersection for a street fair and put them to use to protect a storefront from so-called anarchists.
Previously.
[Street fair photos by Bobby Williams]
The accompanying caption notes, "The Starbucks on Astor Place with police barricades in front on April 15, 2012." (The Daily News published a similar photo.)
Yes, those are police barricades. However, it's unclear from any media accounts or live tweets whether police actually used the barricades Saturday in the skirmish that led to the arrest of three men.
However, one thing is certain about the police barricades... the NYPD used them earlier on Saturday for an Astor Place street fair.
Crews likely stacked up the barricades after the street fair ended early Saturday evening for pick up later.
This doesn't change what transpired on Saturday night... but there is a difference between using the barricades to block off an intersection for a street fair and put them to use to protect a storefront from so-called anarchists.
Previously.
[Street fair photos by Bobby Williams]
Here's your Proto's Pizza signage; and no $1 slices
Sign is up now at Proto's Pizza, where Enzo's was on Second Avenue between Third Street and Second Street... Enzo's closed last May...
Neighborhoodr has more on the incoming pizzeria:
The owner’s first go at a pizza place. Aims to hit the sweet spot of offering a high-quality slice for around $2.50. No dollar slices here. "I'd rather go out of business than have to compromise quality. You’re in New York. Do it right," says Mr. Proto, a Brooklyn native.
Updated:
EVG reader @bndo sent along this photo from Saturday...
Patricia Field announces move on the Bowery
Oh, just a follow-up on our post from last month about the Patricia Field boutique moving up a storefront on the Bowery to the current Patricia Field showroom ... Signs are now up announcing the move...
302 Bowery, home of the current Field shop, is on the market for $30,000 a month. Details here.
302 Bowery, home of the current Field shop, is on the market for $30,000 a month. Details here.
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