Now open: Fantastic Tea Shop on East 4th Street

EVG reader Ben let's us know that Fantastic Tea Shop has opened at 128 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

We don't know too much about the space just yet… but we'll add it to our growing list of new East Village cafes.

NYPD looking for suspect in 5 sexual assaults, including 2 in the East Village

A man wanted in connection with two sexual assaults in East Village buildings near the FDR last month is also suspected of three other attacks, the NYPD said.

The most recent incident occurred early yesterday morning. As DNAinfo reports:

The man, who was caught on surveillance video wearing a black Yankees baseball cap, most recently snuck up behind a 31-year-old woman as she entered her apartment building near Chrystie Street on Jan. 14 at 2:30 a.m., police said.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her pants down but pushed her away and fled when she screamed, police said.

Gothamist posted video of the suspect.



Here is the latest description of the suspect, via Gothamist: "a black male, approximately 5'4" to 5'11", 20-25-years-old, 150-180 lbs., with a dark complexion."

Gothamist also has details on each attack.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online

Open Pantry is now selling off its inventory and equipment

Last Thursday, we passed along the sad news that Open Pantry was going to close it 45-year-old coffee shop/grocery at 184 Second Ave. in the weeks ahead.



The sign above on the Open Pantry front door explains.

There's now a listing on Craigslist noting that the store is selling its inventory and equipment.

Not much info is featured on the listing (including the name Open Pantry, but the photos all show the familiar interior) ...



Several readers on our previous post said that the proprietors, the Pappas family, also own the building here between East 11th Street and East 12th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 40-plus years, Open Pantry looks to be closing on 2nd Avenue

Construction crews spotted at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

Reps for billionaire art collector Peter Brant, also the new owner of 421 E. Sixth St., filed work permits back in October for the former home-studio of artist Walter De Maria.

The plans for now just call for the rather generic "removal of interior non loading bearing partitions and related finishes" here between Avenue A and First Avenue.

EVG regular peter radley spotted a work crew inside the space yesterday...





Brant told the Times last October that he plans on opening an exhibition space here in a few years.

There was a show in this space last December titled "Dan Colen: The L...o...n...g Count." However, that was reportedly not a project of the Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, Conn.

No. 421 was built in 1920 as a ConEd substation, but had been converted into a photography studio after De Maria bought it in 1980.

De Maria died of a stroke in July 2013 at age 77.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street

RIP Walter De Maria

What is your East Village dream home?

Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect

Walter De Maria's home/studio on East 6th Street is now on the market for $25 million

Rumor: The Brant Foundation buying Walter De Maria's E. 6th St. studio for an exhibition space (19 comments)

Confirmed: Peter M. Brant buys Walter De Maria's amazing East 6th Street home and studio

1st permits filed for renovation of Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

A soft opening at the Brant Foundation's new space at Walter De Maria's former East 6th Street studio

More about the 1st show at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

Venezuelan favorite Guayoyo remains temporarily closed after basement fire

A fire broke out in the basement of 133 E. Fourth St. at First Avenue on Tuesday morning.

While the residents were able to return, corner tenant Guayoyo, the excellent Venezuelan restaurant, remains closed…

A sign on the door explains…



No word on an reopening date. There weren't any reported injuries in the fire.

Gena's Grill remains closed for renovations

Gena's Grill closed at the end of 2014 at 210 First Ave. for renovations. At the time, a sign on the door of the small restaurant that serves delicious and inexpensive Latin fare near East 13th Street pointed to a Jan. 10 reopening.

EVG reader Greg Masters passed along these photos from last evening… showing that there's a lot of work left to do … and that the old place is taking on a whole new look…

Pipe dreams at 98-100 Avenue A

An EVG reader shares the current view into the hole at 98-100 Avenue A where East Village Farms (and a theater) once stood.

All this is for developer Ben Shaoul's 6-floor residential building with 29 apartments and ground-floor retail here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

One small reward after months and months of agonizing demolition: "I have a lovely view and sunset for a few months at least," the reader said. But. "I'm dreading the day the construction amps up."

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Workers back demolishing what's left of 98-100 Avenue A

How you can get Julianne Moore, Ethan Hawke and Greta Gerwig into your East Village apartment

Courtesy of movie-making magic, of course… EVG reader Kelly Virginia Vinson shared this flyer from a building on East Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B… crews are scouting for an East Village apartment for use in late February.

Details are on the flyer for the film directed by Rebecca Miller called "Maggie's Plan."

Report: Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks will move to the East Village

[28 E. Second St.]

Back in November, Jeremiah Moss reported that the popular Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks was not having the lease renewed for its 15-year-old Greenwich Village shop.

Soon after this news broke, DNAinfo got word that a pair of siblings reached out to Slotnick about a retail space available in their childhood home on East Second Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Yesterday, Slotnick confirmed to Jeremiah that she struck a deal with the family, with an anticipated opening date of Feb. 1 in the ground-floor commercial space.

Per Jeremiah: "[T]he story of how she got it might renew your faith in New York City and the life of its book culture."

Read his post here.

Previously

[Updated] Bowery Coffee is closing for good after today

A tipster let us know that Bowery Coffee at 87 E. Houston just west of the Bowery closes for good after business today.

We haven't heard any reasons why. Their Instragram account simply notes, "Come say goodbye to your favorite baristas because we'll miss you too!"

Bowery Coffee opened in October 2011.

Updated 1-15

BoweryBoogie has more today on the situation here... to no surprise, the landlord apparently refused to renew the shop's lease.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Avenue A at East 5th Street by David Spaltro]

Another new residential building for the Bowery (BoweryBoogie)

Your chance to discuss the $335 million plan to create a flood barrier and expanded recreational area along the East River (The Lo-Down)

A look at Real Men, a new weekly program at the Boys Club of New York on East 10th Street (DNAinfo)

John Lurie shares an NYPD anecdote from the 1980s on East Third Street (The Daily News)

The 1980s photography of Hank O'Neal (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Christo and Dora are spending more time together in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

The NYC premiere tomorrow night of Adam Rifkin's "Guiseppe Makes a Movie" (Anthology Film Archives)

Jane Jacobs’ 1958 warning about the loss of street life still resonates (Streetsblog)

Info on the upcoming shows for They Might Be Giants (Brooklyn Vegan)

The $66 million penthouse condo at the Puck Building (Curbed)

Liquiteria opens in the former Gray's Papaya space on Sixth Avenue in the Village (Eater)

... and tonight at the Cherry Tavern, The VolaVida Collective is hosting a one-night only art show by UncuttArt titled "Illegal Tender."


[Photo via 2001 Films]

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Magic Brian
Occupation: Magician, Comedian, Performer
Location: East 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue
Time: 11:30 am on Wednesday, Dec 17

I was born in Long Island and I grew up in Cornwall, about an hour and a half north of the city. My mom’s from Brooklyn and my dad’s from Queens, but they moved out of the city and I moved back in.

I moved to the city in 1996, to an apartment on 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. I didn’t know this neighborhood that well but I was always coming down here for shows or to go to the bar or whatever and then I just fell in love with it. I was just constantly taking the bus down here, so I moved to 7th Street a year and a half later. I then moved to 1st Avenue, above Lanza’s for four years, and 12 or 13 years ago I moved down to where I live now with my wife, to 2nd between C and D.

Any time friends come into town I just walked them around the neighborhood. Benny’s was a favorite place. There was great people watching at Benny’s. Now we’re like, I guess we’ll just set up lawn chairs on the corner and bring our own margaritas. It’s a great neighborhood, it’s just changing. I’ve started taking pictures of all the corners. I’ve got about 60 corners so far.

I started doing magic when I was a kid. My sister works at a daycare center. When she was working there as a teenager, there was construction, so she had a daycare center in our house basically. There was a room in our house with all these kids in it, and she was always trying to come up with stuff to do with them. I had always played around with magic. I had a friend who lived down the street and I said, ‘Hey what if we put on this show for the kids?’

So we started practicing on these same six kids over and over again. So I was like, ‘You know what, we can make money doing this.’ We became Abra and Cadabra. We did a lot of family shows, kids shows, senior citizen centers. I did that for a while and then when I went to college I started doing solo shows and more comedy shows.

It was a bit weird doing it without my partner because I had always had someone else, and then he completely lost interest. He had never really wanted to do it to begin with. So I started doing open mics and things like that. Magic is my tool, but [what I do] is like a comedian or a clown act. A juggler might use juggling clubs or balls, but they’re a comedian that juggles. Magic is my tool.

I started doing that and then I met this circus, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, based in Brooklyn. They were doing shows at the Brooklyn Brewery at the time, Winter Cabaret, and they always toured, so I started touring with them for a few years. I loved traveling around the world with the circus. It was kind of like we were a band. We would play rock venues. We had a trailer that said, Bindelstiff Family Cirkus and people would ask, ‘Are you guys in a band?’ ‘No we’re a circus.’ ‘Is that the name of your band?’ ‘We’re a circus, not a band.’ ‘What kind of music do you play?’ We’re a circus.’

After that I started street performing and then I started traveling the world. I had just done so many shows on the road with them that I thought, ‘Well, what else can I do?’ One of my friends on tour, him and his wife were street performing in Europe, so I just asked them some advice and I put a show together. The first time I did it was in Washington Square Park. That was 2000 or 2001. I worked there just at the very start and then left. It was just waiting around so long to do a show because there were so many acts that it took forever. It was hard. Yeah. Back then it was a lot of different acts and so many strange ones. Now it’s just the break dancers. Then I went up to Central Park and it was a nicer experience.

I’m back up in Central Park. [2014] was the first year where I was going up there regularly again. I started going up with a magician friend of mine. The break dancers took over the spot I usually work by the fountain. They kind of do that everywhere — everywhere in the world. They’re kind of a plague. There’s a code among street performers — you share. You show up at some place, you help somebody out. Someone’s new, you explain to them how it works. Break dancers don’t understand that at all. They just decide to do what they want, when they want. They’ll just do show, show, show, show, show and they don’t want to share. There’s only a few break dancers that I’ve ever worked with that are nice guys. They basically force people out of pitches, the spot you work.

It’s a crazy life to live, being a performer. We’re talking about the neighborhood and you’re used to the neighborhood being the way it is. Being a performer, I’m used to what it is that I do and I forget that it’s strange to people that don’t do this. It’s like, ‘Wait, what do you do?’ I hammer a nail in my nose. I swallow razor blades. I put a wig on and talk in an English accent. This is what it is. It’s normal to me and the people that I work with. My colleagues are the sword swallower and the lizard man. That’s not strange to me.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

About the Manitoba's post

[Image via Facebook]

In this space today we had a post about Manitoba's being in danger of closing... including a letter from co-owners Handsome Dick Manitoba and Zoe Hansen.

The letter was not quite ready for public consumption. So we pulled the post for now and will update when everything is ready. Our apologies. The updated post will include the original comments from today.

Manitoba's is in danger of closing on Avenue B

[Image via Facebook]

Handsome Dick Manitoba and Zoe Hansen, owners of Manitoba's at 99 Avenue B, shared the following letter with us last evening... (slightly edited for length)

Since January 1999, Manitoba’s has existed and thrived as one of the last great New York City Rock and Roll Bars, with a sub-specialty in Punk Rock, a casual bar to enjoy a few drinks, watch a game, play a game, or have a lovely conversation with a member of our wonderful, unpretentious staff ... and listening to Johnny Cash, The Stooges, The Beatles, The Ramones, and The Dictators, for example.



Sadly, this East Village landmark is now in danger of shutting down.

Due to a small wrinkle in the interplay between State and Federal law, Manitoba’s was recently forced to reluctantly settle a case with a private individual for a cumbersome amount that threatens the future of the establishment.

Our backs are against the wall. Our ONLY choice, after being advised by several very competent lawyers, was to settle.

Manitoba’s, its proprietors and patrons, are the very fiber of the East Village — the same East Village that is now being commoditized at an alarming rate and manifesting itself in the form of tenants in expensive apartments levying noise complaints at 8 pm.

This is a battle cry for help. Please don't let Manitoba’s meet the same fate as other business institutions that have recently been forced to close.

Understand this please, this situation is not part of what you would call, "business as usual." It's not a fine, and it's certainly not business mismanagement. We either pay, or shut down. Not one penny goes into the owner's pockets, or is being used to pay bills. All of it goes to settling this claim and keeping the bar open.

There will be auctions, concerts and donations. Every donation — no matter how small — will greatly assist towards keeping the lights on, the beer cold and the jukebox playing.

Thank you,
Handsome Dick Manitoba & Zoe Hansen, owners

We'll have more information on the situation here as it becomes available...

A 'once in a lifetime opportunity' to buy a home inside the former Lodging House on 8th Street

We've seen listings through the years for rentals at the former Lodging House/Children's Aid Society on the corner of East Eighth Street and Avenue B.

Now, though, there's a listing for a two-floor home that hasn't been available for sale in nearly 40 years.

Let's go right to Urban Compass for the breathless details:

The last time anyone was able to make a claim on a space within Vaux and Bradford’s storied Lodging House was 1978. And prior to that, never.

So in the most literal way possible, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a living piece of Manhattan history. As it stands, the lower floor features a wonderfully proportioned South facing living area with wood-burning fireplace, 10 foot ceilings and a large wrought-iron enclosed Juliet balcony overlooking the recently restored St. Brigid’s church and Tompkins Square Park.



Within the Lodging House, Apartment 2–3E is located on the south, east and north sides of the 2nd and 3rd floors, light is guaranteed all day long. Once inside, look closer. It will be easy to find the original spirit of the building by stripping the existing sheetrock away to expose the wonderful Monk bond brickwork, and it’s thrilling to imagine the probability of 130 year old wooden ceiling joists and beams running lengthwise across the ceilings.





To the rear of the home is a large dining area and kitchen with a north facing window overlooking verdant-planted gardens and the stately Christodora House on East 9th Street. The upper floor of the duplex currently has three comfortable bedrooms and is replete with exposed brick, two large wood-burning fireplaces, arched windows and strip oak hardwood floors.

Price: $4 million.

No. 295 Avenue B was completed in 1887... It was known as Newsboys' and Bootblacks' Lodging House as well as Tompkins Square Lodging House for Boys and Industrial School, Children's Aid Society.

No one is taking advantage of the line-free skating at Extell Lake

[EVG reader submitted]

While 500 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B awaits its 7-floor retail-residential building from Extell Development, the standing water remains frozen solid on the lot...

Commenters on our previous Extell Lake post seemed to like the idea of an ice rink here for the winter... an alternative to The Ice at Stuy Town...

Previously on EV Grieve:
New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

Extell Lake

Updated: Report of a basement fire at 133 E. 4th St.

The FDNY is on the scene at East Fourth Street and First Avenue... for a fire that was reported at 11 a.m.

MAN ALL HANDS 133 E 4 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN BASEMENT,

— FDNY (@FDNY) January 13, 2015

We'll update the story when we receive more information.

Photos by John Coakley

Updated 11:54 a.m.

MAN ALL HANDS 133 E 4 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN BASEMENT, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNY (@FDNY) January 13, 2015

Updated 1:38 p.m.

While we haven't heard about a cause... several EVG Facebook friends noted that the fire started in the basement of Guayoyo, the delicious Venezuelan restaurant who is currently without power or gas.

Updated 6:25 p.m.

Guayoyo is closed this evening... there isn't any sign up about the closure...

New building in the works for 253 E. 7th St.

[Photo from December by EVG reader Laura Zelasnic]

Back in July, we noted that 253 E. Seventh St., a townhouse between Avenue C and Avenue D, was on the market.

The vacant building has air rights, and the listing noted that "the buyer could keep the existing structure and add floor area. Alternatively, the buyer could demolish the existing and structure and build a new ground-up development."

Looks as if the new owners have opted for the demolition route.

There is a new permit pending for a 6-floor residential building here.



Plans call for two residences plus a duplex penthouse for No. 253.

In early December, neighbors complained of illegal demolition at the site. (There aren't any demo permits on file just yet.)

The property changed hands for $4.3 million last August to an entity going by JKM 7 LLC.

At the grand opening of Sweet Generation

Photos and text by Stacie Joy

I dropped by Sunday's grand opening of Sweet Generation with my neighbor Ed and his son, baby Ed, for some cupcakes and treats, and to learn more about its "sweet" social mission.


[Baby Ed and Ed]

First of all, the bakery at 130 First Ave. near St. Mark's Place has more than just cupcakes, which is a relief, as I have been a bit cupcaked-out. There are cookies and brownies and banana breads ... and croissants, muffins and tarts, plus coffee drinks and lemonades.

Owner Amy Chasan, a former high school teacher, was kind enough to take a few minutes out of her busy and crowded-with-well-wishers day to tell me a bit more about the program at her bakery.





She introduced me to one of her interns, Elizabeth, and her piping artist, Rena (serious decorative skills here!), as well as her café manager and arts curator, Regina.

We viewed the youth artwork on a special magnetic wall, set up for rotating displays (currently titled "Selfies").



Amy explained that her mission (partnered with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation and the Lower Manhattan Arts Academy) is to help young people by instilling a work ethic and learning food-handling as well as baking and customer service skills. In addition, a portion of the shop's proceeds go to developing arts education, which Amy is passionate about.



I took home a blackberry kolaczki, made in honor of First Avenue Pierogi and Deli, the previous tenant here whose family, who owns the building, decided to retire last summer.



You can learn more about the new bakery at its Facebook page.



Previously.

A Wind Chimes of East 7th Street postscript

[Last week]

Last Friday, an East Seventh Street resident shared the above Urban Etiquette Sign about some apparently noisy wind chimes on the block.

Given how annoyed some neighbors were about being kept up by the wind chimes ... it's likely not a surprise that there's more sign activity.

A resident passed along this sign postscript with us...



"Buy an oscillating fan and hang the darn WIND CHIMES in your own bedroom!"

To be continued?

Previously on EV Grieve:
In a strong wind, these wind chimes on 7th Street are keeping residents awake

New cafe roundup

[Photo by Stacie Joy]

Here's a quick look at several new cafes that have opened in recent weeks ... starting with Matcha Cafe Wabi (above), which debuted last month at 233 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B.

Other new offerings include Cafe Silan at 280 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...



... aside from dairy-free ice cream, DF Mavens has coffee, tea, sandwiches and baked goods at 37 St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue...



... Spot Dessert Shoppe at 5 St. Mark's Place near Third Avenue is now open and serving things like waffles, crepes and various hot and cold drinks ...



... and coming very soon — C&B Cafe at 178 E. Seventh St. just west of Avenue B...

Casimir temporarily closes to move its bar

An EVG reader noted that Casimir at 103-105 Avenue B was closed last night ... with paper up in its windows.

There isn't any mention of this on the French restaurant's website, Facebook page or outgoing voicemail. In any event, the closure is just temporary.

The restaurant between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street was on this month's CB3/SLA committee agenda for an alteration. According to paperwork (PDF!) at the CB3 website, Casimir's management is moving the bar from the south side (103) of the restaurant to the north side (105).

The CB3 meeting was last night. We didn't hear how this vote went ... and we don't know why this bar move might be an issue.

Also, no word yet when the work will be complete at Casimir.

Update: see first comment for more details on the renovation.

Report: Someone stole the money for Walter Kühr's funeral

Walter Kühr, the owner of the Main Squeeze Accordion shop on Essex Street, died on Jan. 2 after fighting lymphoma for seven years.

Now WABC reports tonight that someone stole $650 from Kühr's shop that is closing this week on Essex Street.

WABC quotes Kühr's friend Marianne DeMarco, who has been selling what's left of The Main Squeeze at 19 Essex St.

To WABC:

"The whole goal wasn't to make buckets of money. Though we could certainly use buckets of money," DeMarco said.

And when an older man with a moustache walked in, they gave him Walter's tool chest for free, and a slice of cake.

"He went back there, took his cake, but also took about $650," DeMarco said.

The $650 was money to pay for Walter's funeral.

"He must have really needed it to do something really cruel to people who were really nice to him," DeMarco said.

Kühr was 57.

[Photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis for The Lo-Down]