Report of a suspicious package outside Cooper Union

EVG reader Chris Rowland shares this photo from outside Cooper Union... where the NYPD has blocked off the area due to a report of a "suspicious package."

Cooper Union's Great Hall also happens to be playing host tonight to the Democratic primary debate for New York State Attorney General ... however, they have not been told to leave, per a reporter on the scene...

There is a suspicious package outside Cooper Union where NY AG debate is being held. Debate hall not being evacuated. I was ushered off block right before a live shot at 7:15. Will apprise. ⁦@NY1⁩ pic.twitter.com/WZuHoK4nAG

— Josh Robin (@joshrobin) September 6, 2018

Updated

The suspicious package turned out to be a "harmless suitcase."

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's this week's NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

This morning in inflatables

First, on Astor Place, EVG reader Liz S. shares this photo (subject line: "can't bear it") of the Thomas Burberry Bear ... the bear has been making the rounds showing off the brand's new logo, having been spotted at Xintiandi Taiping Lake, Shanghai.

Meanwhile, on Seventh Street and Avenue B, the Philosophical Zombie notes the always mesmerizing lime green inflatable tube man welcoming back students to the St. Brigid School...

3rd Annual Alphabet City Short Film Festival is Saturday at the 6BC Botanical Garden

The 6BC Botanical Garden, located on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, is playing host to the 3rd Annual Alphabet City Short Film Festival Saturday evening.

Here's info via Facebook:

Join us for a rare screening of diverse shorts by local filmmakers. Curated by 6BC member and filmmaker Kris Enos.

• “I Aint Lazy, I'm Just Dreamin” 2015, 7 minutes
A concept music video that harkens back (...or forward?) to a time of hobo prophets, mulligan stew, orange ladies, bowery boys, bawdy vaudeville acts, and the fuzz. A burlesque club musician en route to work imagines magical dreams ... or is he living them? Featuring cameos by several Downtown NYC filmmakers and performers.
Director: Bill Poznanski

• "SunnySide Up" 2003, 26 minutes
A comedy from NYC... Where do babies come from? Marie doesn't want to know, but she's going to find out.
Director: Charles Krezell

• “Downfall” 1989, 6 minutes
An experimental documentary, shot between 1988-1989. The East Village May Day protests, interspersed with New York City Marathon footage. The demolition and beginnings of gentrification in Alphabet City — a neighborhood under siege.
Director: Kris Enos

• “Willow Weep For Me” 2017, 8 minutes
After 41 years of Cher, a willow tree beloved by her community and strongly identified with La Plaza, she's dismantled for the neighborhood safety. Her life is celebrated with a wake in the garden, officiated by community members.
Director: Alvah Holmes

• Mahagonny Songspiel Animation Reel” 2018, 5 minutes
Hand-painted animation inspired by Kurt Weill and Berthold Brecht's early operatic work. The city of Mahagonny offers prosperity, but its citizens prove to be its undoing.
Director: Klay-James Enos

• “Penelope & Kennedy” 2017, 19 minutes
Two women face the challenges of their unique relationship.
Director: Anthony Laura

The films start at 8 p.m.

Emmy Squared's owners are bringing grilled pizza to the former GG's space on 5th Street

[EVG file photo]

Matt and Emily Hyland, who run Emily and Emmy Squared, have announced their intentions for the former GG's space on Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

In a fall preview at New York magazine, the Hylands say they'll be bringing the under-represented grilled ­pizza to the address.

The Hylands reportedly went to "grilled-pizza mecca" Al Forno in Providence, R.I., on their first date while attending Roger Williams University.

Per New York:

Hyland plans to cook his pizzas over a hybrid gas-and-charcoal grill. The key, he says, is achieving a crust that’s crisp, but not cracker-crisp, and also soft. He’ll use a nifty combo of Fontina, Pecorino, and a fancy, eminently meltable Jasper Hill Farm shredded-cheese blend on some of the pies. And that’s not all. More so than at their other restaurants, the kitchen will delve into non-pizza dishes including housemade pastas like spaghetti chitarra with clams and bonito butter; grilled whole fish and head-on shrimp; and johnnycakes treated like polenta and topped with, say, roasted mushrooms and bitter greens.

Emmy Squared was originally thought to be taking over GG's. However, that space has been dormant since GG's closed on Dec. 23.

Emmy Squared, with its Detroit-style pizza and double burgers, opened on First Avenue at Fifth Street in July.

The still-unnamed grilled pizzeria is expected to open in November, per New York.

Gotham Pizza looks closed

Several readers in recent days have noted that Gotham Pizza has not been open during its usual business hours ... with the space cleaned out here on 12th Street at Third Avenue, as these photos by EVG reader Laura K. show (and H/T @JCooper911!) ...



Gotham's phone is still in service, though there isn't any answer. The various online delivery services note that this Gotham location isn't currently taking any orders.

The pizzeria, part of a mini chain, opened here in August 2016.

Their slices were serviceable though nothing spectacular... and why bother with the excellent slices at Joe's beckoning around the corner on 14th Street. And telling — despite the proximity to five dorms (four NYU and one New School), Gotham Pizza never seemed all that busy.

The corner space last served up the FroYo via Funkiberry. There were more slices before this with AAA (New) Amici Pizza.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Funkiberry-replacing pizzeria revealed on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry closed on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space is for lease on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

The Detox Market now open on East Houston

More than two years after the new-building reveal, 76 E. Houston St. at Elizabeth has a new tenant... the Detox Market recently opened for business.

This is the first NYC outpost for the shop, with multiple locations in Los Angeles and Toronto, that offers "green beauty brands to detoxify your life" ...



The two-story structure, which is adjacent to the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall (also owned by Goldman Properties), was a long time coming. Construction took several years. (BoweryBoogie reported in October 2014 that work slowed down here due to Certificate of Occupancy issues and a dispute over the property line.)

No. 76 was previously home to the big top of Billy's Antiques.


[EVG photo from 2011]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Deal off to bring Crif Dogs to the former Billy's Antiques space

The Houston/Bowery Mural Wall has been boarded up

Full stop work order for 76 E. Houston St., and the return of Billy's Antiques (sort of)

Checking in on the incoming building at 'the four corners of Downtown'

The painting Billy Leroy left behind

Banksy's grim reaper and the old Bowery ghosts

Wednesday's parting shot

The fledgling ponders a sign in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Steven.

Report: Developer Gregg Singer says Mayor de Blasio lied about city's P.S. 64 outreach

During a recent media roundtable at Brooklyn Borough Hall, Mayor de Blasio said that Gregg Singer, who owns the former P.S. 64 on Ninth Street, "has been exceedingly uncooperative" about selling the building back to the city, as The Villager reported.

However, Singer told Patch that he hasn't heard from anyone at the mayor's office about the property he bought in a city auction in 1998.

Some background: During a town hall forum at P.S. 188 last October, de Blasio said that the Giuliani administration should not have auctioned off the property, and that he would work to "right the wrongs of the past," as DNAifno reported.

"For the administration to put that building into private hands failed miserably, and we’ve seen the negative affect that that has had on the community. So I'm announcing tonight the city's interest in re-acquiring that building," de Blasio said, eliciting cheers from the audience.

And during the media roundtable on Aug. 23, de Blasio said the following, as reported by The Villager:

“We’ve tried to have a productive conversation about purchase,” he said. “We’ve gotten nowhere so far. We’re not giving up. We’re working very closely with the councilmember, Carlina Rivera. I’m very frustrated with that owner.”

Eminent domain, though it may not be an immediate option, is “certainly something I want to know more about, but I had hoped the best solution here would be a direct purchase,” de Blasio explained. “That’s not off the table. It’s just we’re just not getting any cooperation so far.”

And as Patch reported last Friday afternoon:

"When I read the report that Mayor de Blasio told the media that I had been 'exceedingly uncooperative,' I was astonished at the brazenness of the mayor's lie," Singer told Patch.

"I know that politicians are not known for their strict adherence to the truth, but when someone like the mayor can claim to be frustrated because I have been uncooperative when I have not received a single email or phone call from him or anyone in his office is simply unbelievable."

Singer challenged the mayor's office to produce email and phone logs that the city has reached out to him.

Singer has said that he has no intention of selling the building, which he bought for $3.15 million. He wants to turn the landmarked property into a dorm called University Square, which continues in a holding pattern while the DOB maintains a Stop Work Order on the building.

In years past several local elected officials, community activists and residents have asked for the return of the building at 605 E. Ninth St. Avenue B and Avenue C for community use. The building became a community center after the school left in 1977. The group was evicted when Singer took over as the landlord.

Previously on Ev Grieve:
The Times explores the past, present and future of the former P.S. 64

Openings: Pizza Rollio on 9th Street; Afandi Grill on 1st Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

Pizza Rollio has opened their outpost at 437 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The pizzeria, which sells its super-thin, arugula-topped pies served in long strips, is owned by Miyuki Talwar and her family, who run similar establishments in the Philippines.

This will be the third Pizza Rollio in the city, joining the Plaza Hotel Food Hall and on West 18th Street.

Here's more about their pizza from the Daily News in 2016:

In a city with pizzerias on almost every corner, Pizza Rollio serves the seemingly impossible: a totally unique pie. Its rectangular creations are light and delicate — built on paper-thin sheets of dough that are baked and sliced into wide ribbons perfect for wrapping around peppery bites of alfalfa sprouts and arugula, the salad-y condiment served with every order.

A post shared by Pizza Rollio (@pizzarollio) on Aug 30, 2018 at 2:14pm PDT

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Meanwhile, at 149 First Ave. near Ninth Street, Afandi Grill has made its debut. The restaurant offers cuisine from Central Asia. Per the website:

Afandi has Xinjiang style hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, world famous Uzbek pilaf and home made pastries. There is a veggie option for each dishes.

You can find their menu and hours here.

This storefront has been vacant since This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef closed in March 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Pizza Rollio bringing its skinny slices to 9th Street

Afandi Grill bringing food from Central Asia to 1st Avenue

A free buffet for voters at 99 Favor Taste on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

The owners of 99 Favor Taste at 37 St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue want you to vote.

As the banner above the entryway declares: "You vote, buffet on me!" The deal is good during the primary election on Sept. 13 as well as the general election on Nov. 6.

The restaurant, which offers traditional Korean-style barbecue and Chinese hot pot meals at multiple NYC locations, opened here in July 2017.

Aside from a free meal for voting, 99 Favor Taste also comps your meal on your birthday.

Time for the new clock faces at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

[Photo by EVG reader George Towne]

The steeplejacks are working today at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, where a new (or refurbished?) clock is being installed...

EVG Steeplejack Correspondent Steven shared these photos of the workers installing the clock faces...















Workers removed the clock back on June 29 at the landmarked church on 10th Street and Second Avenue.

And the folks at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation shared this photo...



EVG reader Brian Philip Katz sent these pics...





The clocks had been stuck at 6:20 for some time.

Tuesdays at Sophie's redux

[Montage via Kyle de Vre]

Last Tuesday I wrote about a new photo book by Kyle de Vre, an East Village resident who has worked at Sophie's for the past four-and-a-half years.

The book, "See You Next Tuesday," features portraits of patrons seated in the bar. The launch is tonight at 9 at Sophie's, 507 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. Read my interview with Kyle here.

Sadly, Freddy Corea, pictured in middle of the top row, died back in July. He was a longtime regular at the bar and a familiar presence in the neighborhood. I never did hear anything further about his passing. In recent years he had been splitting time between his East Village apartment and his family's place in Puerto Rico.

Porto Rico Importing Co. reopens after 2-week rehab on St. Mark's Place

Porto Rico Importing Co. on St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue reopened today as expected after what the owners, the Longo family, described as a "much-needed facelift" these past two-plus weeks.

They were planning on putting in new shelves, fixing the floor, moving the ice machine and "adding a better drip brewer."

Steven shared these photos from this morning...





The Longo family has owned the business, with four locations now, since 1958. Peter Longo took over the business in 1976 after the death of his father, Angelo.

[Updated] RIP Kenny Shopsin

Kenny Shopsin, described as the "legendary (and legendarily eccentric, ill-tempered, and lovable" chef who owned Shopsin's in the Essex Street Market, died on Sunday. (Jason Kottke was first to report on Shopsin's passing. Updated: Here are tributes via Grub Street and Eater.)

According to the Times, Shopsin was 76. The Times noted that Shopsin had a variety of health issues in recent years.

Before relocating to Essex Street in 2007, Shopsin’s General Store anchored the corner of Bedford and Morton streets starting in 1971.

Per a feature by Calvin Trillin in The New Yorker from 2002:

Normally, mentions of Shopsin's in print are complimentary, in a sort of left-handed way — as in Time Out New York's most recent guide to the city's restaurants, which raved about the soups and described Kenny ("the foul-mouthed middle-aged chef and owner") as "a culinary genius, if for no other reason than he figured out how to fit all his ingredients into such a tiny restaurant." To Kenny's way of thinking, a complimentary mention is worse than a knock. It brings review-trotters — the sort of people who go to a restaurant because somebody told them to. Kenny finds that review-trotters are often "petulant and demanding." Failing to understand that they are not in a completely conventional restaurant, they may be taken aback at having the person next to them contribute a sentence or two to their conversation or at hearing Kenny make a general remark in language not customarily heard in company unless the company is in a locker room or at being faced with deciding among nine hundred items and then, if they have selected certain dishes, having to indicate the degree of spiciness on a scale of one to ten.

There were many Shopsin tributes on Twitter yesterday...

Kenny Shopsin, raconteur and chef, died today. Someone who made New York City an amazing funky place, a spark of personal humanity in the big city. He will be missed.

— Tim Dierks (@tdierks) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin died this morning. I can’t explain how important his restaurant was to me and my idea of what New York is. He was one of the kindest people I ever met and I never saw that more clearly than when he was throwing someone out for not following the rules.

— Art M-T (@atebbel) September 3, 2018

In memory of Kenny Shopsin, the Calvin Trillin piece on him and his old restaurant on Carmine. I remember when I first met him, he had a flip phone hanging around his neck on a piece of twine, in case his wife had to call and yell at him. https://t.co/VFgCGQeVUv

— Thirsty Pete (@thirstypete) September 3, 2018

Sad to hear that Kenny Shopsin has died. Can’t think of anything uncliched to say about his cooking, his candor or what he symbolized when it comes to NYC. In his honor, I vow to spend more time spouting impassioned expletives in mixed company then unapologetically dozing off.💔

— Dor Dotson (@dordotson) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin was your favorite New York character’s favorite New York character. A client of my CPA father for more than 40 years, they communicated more or less exclusively through insults. Rest in Pancakes.

— Mark Weinstein (@mwweinstein) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin wouldn’t have survived the move to the new Essex Market, but then again, the market may not have survived him. rest in pancakes, sir.

— urban fagrarian (@_terroirism_) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin has died. The man knew how to make a menu pic.twitter.com/9KASA772Dq

— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) September 3, 2018

There's nothing I can say about Kenny Shopsin's passing that he wouldn't find insufferable, except: this city is a boring shithole made for tourists, and your kid is beautiful.

— David Yee (@tangentialism) September 3, 2018

Horrible horrible news today: NYC’s impossibly great Kenny Shopsin has left the planet. For those who don’t know Shopsins, his daughter Tamara made a great book in 2017 about the restaurant and the world Kenny embodied: https://t.co/c8ar5F2x19

— matt sweeney (@theheavyjamz) September 3, 2018

I loved Kenny Shopsin. He/Eve fed me for free when I was broke. Like everyone, our friendship was based on profane barbs flung back & forth at each other. The magic of Bedford St has so many memories. I’ve more to say, but for now- #AllOurCooksWearCondoms #RIPkennyShopsin #EatMe

— Lizz “Pecker Watcher " Winstead (@lizzwinstead) September 3, 2018

As Brooklyn Vegan pointed out, the 2004 documentary on Shopsin's, titled "I Like Killing Flies," is not available on any streaming services and the DVD is out of print.

There are, however, assorted clips from it on YouTube...

Brick Lane Curry House closes ahead of move down the block

Brick Lane Curry House closed after service last Thursday here at 99 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street... and workers quickly cleaned out the space...



The restaurant confirmed on Facebook that they are moving one block to the south — 79 Second Ave., the former Heart of India space. No word on a reopening date just yet.

This marks Brick Lane's third East Village location. They moved from Sixth Street to 99 Second Ave. in August 2014.

As for No. 99, the owners of Calexico, the Cal-Mex burrito-beer chainlet, were on last month's CB3-SLA agenda for a liquor license for this address.

Calexico currently has a handful of NYC locations (Upper East Side, Greenpoint, Park Slope, Red Hook, among them) as well as in Detroit — and Bahrain.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On 2nd Avenue, Calexico in the works with Brick Lane Curry House on the move

Rite Aid signage arrives at the Niko East Village on Avenue D

The Rite Aid signage arrived back on Friday in the retail space of Niko East Village, the 12-story retail-residential complex via L+M Development Partners on Avenue D between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...



To recap: The lots previously along here housed one-level storefronts that included a Rite Aid, which relocated one block north to the ground floor of Arabella 101. Rite Aid had signed a lease to return to the retail space in this building.

The former Rite Aid at the site of Niko had a pretty cool underwater theme painted on its walls, courtesy of The Royal Kingbee UW.

A flashback to September 2013 to these photos by Goggla, whose work includes serving as the EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent...









As for Niko, the rentals are underway. Rents start at $2,800 a month and go up to nearly $6,000.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Space that houses Rite Aid on Avenue D hits market for $22.5 million

Report: New 12-story, mixed-use building in the works for Avenue D

Permit pre-filed for new 12-floor building at 79-89 Avenue D

7th Street residents angered after developer cuts down the wrong tree

NIKO East Village debuts on Avenue D and 6th Street

The Adele joins The Robyn in pop star-friendly East Village corridor

Rentals underway at The Niko on Avenue D

Möge Tee bringing bubble tea and other teas to Cooper Square

There's a hiring sign up at 69 Cooper Square, where an outpost of Möge Tee is presumably opening here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...



This will be the third location for the Flushing-based bubble-tea business. (Franchising is available.)

Here's part of their menu...



They'll have some competition around the corner, where there are already four businesses on St. Mark's Place that sell similar products between Third Avenue and Second Avenue. (And a fifth, Mi Tea, is on the way.)

This space at 69 Cooper Square was previously Cafe Zaiya, the Japanese bakery-cafe that closed back in the spring.

Window treatment at the Moxy East Village

The latest development to note at the 13-story Moxy East Village here on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue: the arrival of the windows...





The 285-key hotel for Marriott's Moxy brand has a late 2019 opening date.


[Stonehill & Taylor Architects]

Previously on EV Grieve:
6-building complex on East 10th Street and East 11th Street sells for $127 million

Report: 300-room hotel planned for East 11th Street

Preservationists say city ignored pitch to designate part of 11th Street as a historic district

Permits filed to demolish 5 buildings on 11th Street to make way for new hotel (58 comments)

New building permits filed for 13-story Moxy Hotel on East 11th Street across from Webster Hall

There will be several eating-drinking choices at the incoming Moxy hotel on 11th Street

A few more details about the incoming Moxy East Village on 11th Street

ICYMI: Westville Bakery opening this fall on 9th Street

[Photo by Steven]

A repost from way back on Friday afternoon...

Signs for Westville Bakery just went up on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue ... where this storefront will be selling the cakes, pies, cookies and seasonal desserts offered at the six Westville locations, including on Avenue A and 11th Street. (The baking is done in Chelsea.)

Jay Strauss, Westville's founder, told EVG correspondent Steven they hope to be open in six weeks.

This space was Zucker Bakery for the past seven years. Zucker's owner decided to retire from the business on July 1.

Westville, the vegetable-centric restaurant, first opened here in 2003.

Updated 9/5

Eater has more details:

Westville’s longtime pastry chef Meital Cohen will be in charge of the food, focusing on sweets such as carrot cake, apple and blueberry pies, assorted cookies, and seasonal specials like a dragon fruit smoothie bowl with berries, almond butter, and granola. But there will also be a savory menu featuring sandwiches, tartines, quiches, and salads. Specific tartines include ones with smoked trout, crème fraîche, and chives or marinated fennel and chickpea salad with whipped feta, while quiches may have roasted vegetables and herb goat cheese or grilled onions and mixed mushrooms. Expect vegan and gluten-free options too.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Baking news: Westville Bakery coming to 9th Street

StuyFitness shaping up on 14th Street

Here's an exterior look at StuyFitness, the new gym on 14th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C for residents of Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village...



As previously noted, the gym — "7,500 Square Feet of Awesome" — will feature four Peloton spin bikes and a GYM RAX Storage and Suspension system, among other things ...



The gym is expected to open this month. (This site has membership info for residents of Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
A gym for Stuy Town on 14th Street — aka '7,500 Square Feet of Awesome'