EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[East 7th Street]

Jack Bistro priced out of University Place (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Australian model Elyse Taylor selling her East 2nd Street home (New York Post)

The spirits of the former Amato Opera House on the Bowery (BoweryBoogie)

And more haunted spirits at the Merchant House Museum (Ephemeral New York)

Seward Park shuns Con Ed (The Lo-Down)

Thoughts on Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" (Dangerous Minds)

... and the other night, activists with Right of Way created a stencil depicting the assault of SUV driver Alexian Lien on a scaffold above the West 178 Street site of the incident... They call this work #Cranksy.



And, given the popularity of anything Banksy-related these days... someone stole the fake Banksy, as Gothamist pointed out yesterday.

The Beagle closes for good Saturday on Avenue A

[EVG file photo]

The Beagle, the craft cocktail bar at 162 Avenue A, closes for service after Saturday, according to a letter the owners sent to friends and customers. (We saw the news over at Eater.)

Here's part of the letter that the owners sent:

It is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that we announce that the Beagle will be closing. We have immensely enjoyed our time serving you all and getting to know this great neighborhood.

This was a difficult choice to make, but we believe it was the right choice. We do not feel that the physical space we currently occupy is well suited to the full time cocktail bar we have become.

Although our search for a new space continues, we accepted an offer to sell the Beagle's current home. We think this is fortuitous.

We are very excited about this opportunity to start anew, with a focus on cocktails, which are the heart and soul of what we do. The Beagle was a wonderful little place and we'll always be proud of what we accomplished there, and remain grateful for its many enthusiasts.

The new owners were on last month's CB3/SLA docket to open a "modern Australian" bar and restaurant.

The Beagle debuted here in the former Orologio space between 10th Street and 11th Street in May 2011. The Beagle's initial "pairing boards" included items such as Pressed Pig Head and Rum, Lamb Neck and Rye, and Scallop and Mezcal. The Beagle closed for part of last summer to rework their menu and cocktails.

There was some friction during the CB3/SLA meeting about this transfer back in February 2011. Per Eater's report at the time:

There was a lot of back and forth on this one. The representative mentioned the price points being reasonable, and community members responded that they saw a sample menu, where entrees were between $26-31. The representative said that was an old menu, and of the 31 items on the menu, 20 are $12 or under. The community members complained about pigs head, foie gras and animal rights.

I never went The Beagle. And I never met anyone who did go here. Anyone want to share their thoughts on the place?

Pie Face shows its, uh, face on Fourth Avenue

[Bobby Williams]

The sign for the latest NYC location of Pie Face went up on Saturday afternoon at Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street...



The Australian bakery reportedly opens today.

Per DNAinfo:

The 24-hour bakery [offers] a full menu of flaky pies stuffed with fillings like mince meat, Philly cheesesteak and tandoori vegetable.

The space was previously home to Brothers Deli. A tipster originally told us that the Pie Face was opening next door at the former Dryden Gallery ... and that a Juice Generation was opening on the corner. We'll see if we can get this sorted out...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Coming and going on Fourth Avenue

Southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street is up for grabs

Week in Grieview

[Bobby Williams]

2013 East Village summer in review (Tuesday)

The life aquatic at the Avenue D Rite Aid (Friday)

"Modern Australian" for Avenue A (Thursday)

We love The Baroness (Wednesday)

The changes coming to Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street (Friday)

About a burlesque mentoring project (Tuesday)

Dr. Doom loses the hot tub (Tuesday)

The incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A looks fucking horrible (Wednesday)

Your CB3/SLA September highlights (Tuesday)

First Avenue Pierogi & Deli returns from summer break (Tuesday)

Memories of the Odessa Cafe and Bar (Wednesday)

FroYo confirmed for Avenue A (Tuesday)

Welcome Taverna Kyclades (Thursday)

New sponsor for the Halloween Dog Parade (Thursday)

'Modern Australian' in the works for The Beagle space on Avenue A

More details are emerging about applicants on this month's CB3/SLA Licensing Committee meeting agenda. According to paperwork (PDF!) filed ahead of the meeting on the CB3 website, there's a sale of assets at the Beagle, 162 Avenue A.



There's not a lot of information. The new applicant goes by the name Flinders Lane LLC and describes itself as "modern Australian." (Flinders Lane is a street in the central business district of Melbourne, Wikipedia helpfully pointed out.) The proposed hours are 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. The forms do not include any names of the new principals, though none of them have previously held a license for alcohol.

The Beagle, which remains open, first debuted here in the former Orologio space between 10th Street and 11th Street in May 2011. The Beagle's initial "pairing boards" included items such as Pressed Pig Head and Rum, Lamb Neck and Rye, and Scallop and Mezcal. The Beagle closed for part of last summer to rework their menu and cocktails.

Tuck Shop closes St. Mark's Place location

The Tuck Shop closed its location for good on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A last night. The locations on East First Street and in the Chelsea Market remain open.

According to the sign on the door, "we decided to close this location for myriad reasons" ... which include:

Surf's Up!
Real-Estate Taxes (my personal fav)
Gentrification
The booze
Sandy (of course)
Rent is too damn high!
Laziness/ennui
Albany/Bloomberg
Gluten-free people

The Australian restaurant opened this location in the summer of 2009.

From April...


[Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C.]

Dub FX and Flower Fairy are performing in Tompkins Square Park

The not-so-secret show is on now in the Park ... featuring the Australian street performer and his partner Flower Fairy...



Photos by Dave on 7th

Updated 8 p.m.

A few photos via Bobby Williams...

[Updated] Sunburnt Cow closing for renovations; going gourmet, bye-bye drunken brunch

[File photo]

We just received a news release about "a restructuring of the Moo Life Group brand that will return the restaurant group to its original mission — to develop gourmet Australian concepts in the United States and abroad."

Basically Bondi Road has been sold and the Sunburnt Cow will undergo a major transformation.

Let's get right to it, per the release:

The sale of Bondi Road was precipitated by a dramatic increase in rent for the space located at 153 Rivington Street ... The Sunburnt Cow, the first restaurant concept developed by the Moo Life Group at 137 Avenue C (between 8th and 9th Streets) will not only undergo a physical transformation, but will also shift focus to more gourmet oriented food and drink as opposed to its current deal-driven status.

"We are very excited about these changes and what they mean to the future of the Moo Life Group," says founder and owner Heathe St. Clair. "I want to thank all of our loyal customers who have made Bondi Road and the Sunburnt Cow so successful throughout the years. It was not an easy decision, but although Bondi Road will be gone, we look forward to the reopening of the Sunburnt Cow and introducing a new approach to Australian dining in New York City."

No date set for the renovations ... or what will become of the Moo Mobile.

The Sunburnt Cow just reopened for seven-days-a-week service on June 1.

Updated July 6:

A Sunburnt Cow rep says that the "Endless Brunch" on weekends will continue in the new-look eatery.

The Sunburnt Cow hopes to reopen by New Year's Eve

Last Thursday, as we first reported, the NYPD closed the Sunburnt Cow on Avenue C for "Criminal sale and possession of controlled substances — marijuana." On Friday evening, we received a statement from the owners of The Sunburnt Cow on Avenue C:

The Sunburnt Cow will open this weekend and honor all reservations and specials as usual, including the Endless Brunch. After Sunday, December 18th, we will close and remain so until the police complete their investigation. We plan to reopen in time for our annual New Year’s celebration.

We are working with the authorities to bring about a swift and just resolution to this issue and want to reiterate that we had no prior knowledge of illegal drug activity on our premises. We do not and will not condone, endorse or tolerate such behavior at any of our establishments.

Yesterday, a rep for The Sunburnt Cow confirmed that the Australian-themed bar-restaurant would remain closed, with an eye on reopening before New Year's Eve.

Previously.

Looking at the slim August CB3/SLA agenda: Heathers up for renewal; Plump Dumpling wants beer and wine

The CB3/SLA docket is now live... and it's pretty lean — 16 items in all.

And, for people curious about a new place from Mars Bar owner Hank Penza, there's nothing on this agenda that fits that description ...

The meeting is next Monday at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence - 200 East 5th Street at Bowery

And now a few of the items of interest:

Renewals with complaints
• Heathers, (Ariel, Inc) 506 E 13 st (op)

Heathers went before the CB3/SLA committee in September 2009 ... and there was a lengthy discussion. The Times checked in with a lengthy article in January 2007 about the ongoing noise issues between the bar and neighbors.

Owner Heather Millstone opened Veronica People's Club in Greenpoint last summer.

Applications within Resolution Areas
• St. Marks Red House, TDD & G LLC, 126 St Marks Pl (wb)

The former Why? Curry space ... now Lychee... soon to be called The East Village Red House. We'll have more on this one later.

Alterations/Upgrades
• Preserve 24 (Aegis Holding Houston LLC), 175-177 E. Houston St (alt/op)

• BOP (Peels) Radley Realty Corp, 325 Bowery (alt,reorg)

New Liquor License Applications
• Plump Dumpling (Big Dumpling Corp), 174 2nd Ave (op)

The Plumpsters, who brought in Yummy House, are looking to serve alcohol ...

• Basketball City, Ark Basketball City Corp, Pier 36 at 299 South St (op)

Wow. This one will whip up some drama. This is the former Office of Emergency Management ... The Lo-Down has background on this controversial rec center...

• TBD, Asian Chef Express Inc, 96 3rd Ave (wb)

• TBD, Ichibantei LLC, 401 E 13th St (wb)

This is the the eatery that serves a range of Japanese "soul food" just east off First Avenue ...

• Hot Kitchen (Hot Kitchen Inc ), 104 2nd Ave (wb)

This is the former Matsukado ... that closed six months after taking over the old Baluchi's space ... Hot Kitchen? Perhaps this will be the "modern Australian" place from Morgan McGlone, the former private chef and caterer on the Upper East Side?

• Quality Meats Downtown (Mozzarella Sticks LLC), 199 Bowery (op)

BoweryBoogie has the scoop on what's in the works for this place.

Where will 'modern Australian' call home on Second Avenue?

Yesterday, Grub Street reported that Morgan McGlone, once a private chef and caterer on the Upper East Side who has been working in Australia, is opening a “45-seat restaurant that’ll serve modern Australian food” in September ... And, per the article, this restaurant will be at (or around!) Second Avenue and East Fifth Street.

So where could this "modern Australian" call home?

There are several empty restaurants right along this stretch of Second Avenue, including:

The old Sin Sin space!



The former Mission Cafe!

Kurve/Rhong Tiam!



The former Sea Salt! (Closer to Sixth Street, but...)



Or, if someone has their streets wrong, how about the Matsukado space just north of Sixth Street?



And what, exactly, is modern Australian? I'm sure it's good. But I can't help but think of the drink-and-drown crowds hitting the Sunburnt Cow weekends ... which leaves me with a different perception of Australian cuisine.

Noted

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Hi Friend-

I am in touch with an Australian Ugg Company that has contacted me about doing some blogger seeding. I would love to add your site to the list of bloggers that will be receiving free Uggs. Please respond with your blog URL, I will forward your info along to the company and upon being selected they will send you a link to drop ship the boots. It's that simple, only because we love you so much!

Predators lurk outside Michael Huynh's new eatery on St. Mark's Place

Michael Huynh's D.O.B. opens soon on St. Mark's Place at the site of the former Australian Homemade... They'll be serving French Vietnamese cuisine...

And look at those new scorpions adorning the wall...





A few doors down, I see a theme emerging...



Hell, of course.

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

Panty time on Houston and Orchard, courtesy of American Apparel, of course.

New Web site writes about NYC store openings and closings (Launch Stalker)

Jeremiah has a history of Village Paper... and some fire theories. (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Melanie got a look inside the old Australian joint on St. Mark's that will soon be D.O.B. (East Village Corner...Musings by Melanie)

Eco-indulgent living on 11th Street selling well (Curbed)

A recap of Day of Ray (The Villager)

A shortage of bitters on the LES (The Observer)

Big Kisses on Houston (BoweryBoogie)

Aside from the peepee phone, of course: Public bathrooms in NYC (Untapped New York, via Patell and Waterman’s History of New York)

This photo by Ozier Muhammad in the Times pretty much sums up why we hate Bloomy's public plazas in Times Square. New York Traffic Experiment Gets Permanent Run.

Michael Huynh's alphabet guessing game on St. Mark's Place

Well! Finally a clue at the former Australian Homemade ice cream/candy shop on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A...

As Eater reported, Michael Huynh, who's opening 1,784 eateries this year, took over this space. "When asked whether or not that would be the location of his future Asian-Taco joint, Huynh said he wasn't sure, that he has three leases on St. Mark's Place to play with ... However, if he does put the tacos here, he's considering calling it Baorrito. May we also suggest South of the Baoder? Taco Bao?"

So, here's what went up last Friday...





Feel free to guess what DOB stands for... I'm going with Department of Buildings.

Gratuitous bikini photo alert: Sports Illustrated swimsuit model buys East Second Street pad

According to a post yesterday on BlockShopper Manhattan, Australian swimsuit model Pania Rose and her beau bought an East Second Street condo for $712,000.

We look forward to seeing her at Hamilton Fish Park this summer.


[Image via SI]

Under wraps: Work starts on two high-profile new East Village eateries

First, at the former Australian Homemade ice cream/candy shop on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A ... where, as Eater reported, Michael Huyh may or may not open his Asian-Taco joint called Baorrito here... In any event, Huyn is opening something here...



Meanwhile, on the Bowery and Second Street, at the former Kelley & Ping space... As Fork in the Road noted, Taavo Somer and his Freemans crew are opening a "classic American diner" here. Per the Voice from the Nov. 16 CB3/SLA meeting: "Somer plans to fully utilize the bi-level space, creating a 63-seat restaurant with a 38-foot counter on the first floor and a 19-foot bar on the second. His application met with a show of support from members of the community, who bemoaned the current state of the abandoned restaurant, which has become a haven for drug deals and muggings."

Australian shoppers (Updated: Is this the new home for Baorrito?)

A tipster notes that several real-estate types have been coming in and out of the former Australian Homemade ice cream/candy shop on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A of late...



The storefront has remained empty since July. Perhaps something new and horrible is imminent for this space...? Perhaps!...the "for rent" signs have been removed...



UPDATE: Oops. Missed this news yesterday afternoon on Eater:

Michael Huyh, the Conquistador of 2009 and new king of St. Mark's Place, confirms that he has just taken over the Austrailian space right next to Crif Dogs on St. Mark's near Avenue A. When asked whether or not that would be the location of his future Asian-Taco joint, Huynh said he wasn't sure, that he has three leases on St. Mark's Place to play with (Cherries is one of the others). However, if he does put the tacos here, he's considering calling it Baorrito.

Following up on two previous posts

Last Thursday I reported that 167 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street (the former NoTell Motel) will become the latest eatery from Jason Hennings and Robert Giraldi.

Hennings confirmed this to Eater. According to Eater: "Restaurateur Jason Hennings writes in today to report that the 167 Avenue A spot ... is indeed his, but his frequent partner Bob Giraldi is not involved. Hennings is bringing his deathwatched but still kicking West 10th venture Diablo Royale to Avenue A."

Also. In the Australian Homemade post from Wednesday, a reader shared the following information:

Actually the place closed when the landlord suddenly tried to raise the rent to a crazy high level. They could not afford to be there any more so they left. Now the store is empty and the landlord is getting nothing. Good business in a recession???

It was a combination of rent hike and tax increase as I am told. The landlord was passing on his city tax hikes to the store (as was probably in the lease) but the store could not pay it. They tried to negoitate a lower amount but the landlord would not budge.

Australian Homemade shuttered and seized

The Australian Homemade ice cream/candy shop on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A abruptly closed down. It was open as of yesterday...and today:




According to the sign, the business was seized...



As you may recall, the St. Mark's shop was "temporarily closed for construction" back in January.

Perhaps it had something to do with this... on Jan. 22, Australian Homemade was inspected by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)...and promptly shut down. According to city records, nine violations were cited, resulting in 93 violation points. (Anything more than 27 violation points means they will conduct a follow-up inspection.) As the DOHMH noted, the violations included "expired milk," "not vermin proof," "personal cleanliness inadequate" and "evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas."

The Australian Homemade at 33 E. Eighth St. remains open.