The Nite Owl opens for night owls and probably other people

North River's transformation into the Nite Owl looks complete at 166 First Ave. near East 10th Street.

Several EVG readers told us that The Nite Owl was open for business on Saturday evening...



Said one reader: "Not a single table and chair left. All high tops with stools and the bar. So much for a restaurant."

The Nite Owl is serving food. Here's a look at the menu on display outside… featuring bar-food items like chicken nuggets, smoked deviled eggs, burgers and tacos…





We first noticed North River closed after service on Feb. 21… a sign on the door said there "there are changes afoot at North River." North River, which served American-style comfort food from chef Adam Starowicz, opened in December 2013.

[Updated] To date, March seeming a lot like February

[2nd Avenue and St Mark's, via Derek Berg]

How has your March been so far? Here are a few scenes from this fine day...


[2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

And in Tompkins Square Park ... via Bobby Williams...





Updated 8:40 p.m.

Still feeling like February! And January! Some photos here via EVG reader John Iz... East Seventh Street and Avenue B... and around Tompkins Square Park...

Checking in on the Tompkins Square Park igloo quinzhee

Still standing! And likely will be through like May...

Photo by Grant Shaffer

Week in Grieview

[Photo from Friday on East 10th by Michael Sean Edwards]

Arrest made in the shooting death of a man outside the Lillian Wald Houses (Monday)

Rosie Mendez co-sponsors proposed new city legislation cracking down on Airbnb (Friday)

Benny's to-go closes on Avenue A (Friday, 29 comments)

Condos now for former Mary Help of Christians property (Thursday)

Hummus Place not reopening on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Black Seed owners reiterate commitment to preserving the former DeRobertis space (Friday)

Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks opens on East Second Street (Tuesday)

East Village Cheese hopes to move somewhere else in the East Village (Wednesday)

Out and About part 2 with Sheila Rothenberg (Wednesday)

West Village-based jeweler Lori McLean relocating to East 11th Street (Tuesday)

Buildings on East Ninth Street getting taller (Tuesday)

NYPD searching for knife-wielding suspect wanted for six store robberies, including on East Seventh Street (Wednesday)

Verdigreen vintage furnishings boutique coming to East Seventh Street (Monday)

Construction watch: 76 E. Houston St. (Monday)

A penthouse for "50 Shades of Grey" fans? (Tuesday)

Met Foods space is now for rent on Third Avenue in Gramercy Park (Wednesday)

Why the subway is late and crowded a lot (Tuesday, 35 comments)

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches hasn't been open lately on East Second Street (Monday)

After just 2 months, Matty's is closed for now on Avenue B (Wednesday)

Expanded lobby on the way at Eleventh and Third (Monday)

About the "equipment malfunction" at the Con Ed plant (Tuesday)

A few details about the Tompkins Square Park igloo quinzhee (Monday)

Transformation of Louis 649 to Mace continues on East Ninth Street (Thursday)

… and people are pretty much giving up on spring already…


[9th and A this morning via William Klayer]

Reward for Sugar is now $10,000, thanks to NBA all-star David Lee

The plight of Sugar, the Amstaff/pit bull mix that went missing this past Monday, has attracted the attention of David Lee, a former Knicks star who is now with the Golden State Warriors.

Yesterday, Lee offered to double the reward for Sugar to $10,000. Lee posted this on his Instagram:



And here is an update this morning from the Find Sugar Facebook page:

We appreciate your support so much, here are a few updates on our efforts:

We are using Pets Detectives. The police are aware, on the lookout, and even have several retired NYPD officers who have volunteered their time to help us. We are procuring/reviewing any surveillance video we can get our hands on. We are checking every imaginable place, and speaking with every imaginable delivery guy, doorman, courier, street vendor, taxi driver, etc… in NYC. Thank you so much for your suggestions.

Sugar's owner, Morgan Bogle, is an East Village resident who was away on business at the time of the disappearance. Bogle told Bedford + Bowery on Wednesday that her dog-sitter of three years was "found with PCP dust on him and in him and taken by the police to Bellevue Hospital psych ward where he’s being held incoherent and not allowed any visitors."

Thank you to all who have contributed, passed out, printed, posted and gave suggestions to #FindSugarNYC campaign. 💛 pic.twitter.com/x51evVKS1c

— FindSugarNYC (@FindSugarNYC) March 1, 2015

There's also now a "FindSugarNYC" billboard on 26th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More about Sugar, the missing pit bull mix with a $5k reward (55 comments)

Reader report: Man dies after fall from East 5th Street roof

Police are on the scene in the courtyard behind 536 E. Fifth St., where residents awoke this morning to news that a young man either fell or jumped to his death from the roof of the 6th-floor building.

Detectives in the building told a resident that the victim was "stripping off his clothing as he went up to the roof, and that he was most likely high" at the time, estimated at 5:15 a.m. Police have not said if the young man intentionally jumped or fell.

According to the building resident, the victim was a recent college graduate who did not live at the address here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

"Not sure what exactly he was doing here, but the kids in the building often have parties — though we didn’t hear anything last night," the resident told us. "It's really sad."

Cafe life

Outside the soon-to-be-demolished Mobil station on Avenue C and East Houston…

Hey, it's the first sunrise of March

Photo by Caz Lulu via Facebook

At least it's not going to snow today or anything, haha — right?

Report of a fire at 121 St. Mark's Place

The FDNY responded to a fire at 121 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Avenue A just after 7 this evening...

MAN ALL HANDS 121 ST MARKS PL, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON 4TH FLR,

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 1, 2015

An EVG reader shared these photos... word on the scene was that there weren't any injuries...



No word on the cause at this time.

The FDNY declared the situation under control in about 20 minutes...

MAN ALL HANDS 121 ST MARKS PL, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON 4TH FLR, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 1, 2015

The search for Sugar, the missing East Village dog, continues

[Photo by Derek Berg]

Dozens of volunteers gathered this morning on Second Avenue at East Fifth Street to help look for Sugar, the Amstaff/pit bull mix that went missing this past Monday. (Volunteers have come together several times this past week. This map shows where people have posted flyers throughout the city.)

Sugar's owner is an East Village resident. Sugar went missing while she was in London on business. Her dog walker of several years reportedly had some kind of "psychotic episode." No word on where the dog walker is now.

The story has received plenty of media coverage … on WABC 7 … NBC New York … and Fox 5, among others…



There are Twitter and Facebook pages now devoted to the search. There is also a $5,000 reward for her return.

SEARCH PARTY + Any information leading to a rescue will be REWARDED. Please RT. New Tel 949-887-0283. #FindSugarNYC pic.twitter.com/M85pZ9Qcnf

— FindSugarNYC (@FindSugarNYC) February 28, 2015

Previously on EV Grieve:
More about Sugar, the missing pit bull mix with a $5k reward (55 comments)

Sidewalk bridge arrives after reports of falling debris on 2nd and B

Crews are erecting a sidewalk bridge — for who knows how long — on the southwest corner of Avenue B and Second Street this morning.

Yesterday around noon, the FDNY responded to the scene — specially 201 E. Second St., where there were reports of bricks falling to the sidewalk from the building.


[Photo yesterday by EVG reader Jason Chatfield]

According to paperwork filed at the Department of Buildings yesterday, the FDNY is requesting a "structural stability inspection due to falling stucco."

Meanwhile, there are other open violations on file at the building… stemming from electrical work without a permit. There are also numerous complaints about a faulty boiler dating to 2012.



The building is operated by Jared Kushner's Westminster Management.

Bar wars: Maybe McSorley's isn't the oldest tavern in the city?

Missed this item from earlier in the week… when news came out via the Daily News that Richard Hourahan of the Queens Historical Society unveiled research showing that Neirs Tavern in Woodhaven opened in 1829, almost 30 years before McSorley's on East Seventh Street near Cooper Square … making it the oldest bar in the city.

And what does the current holder of the oldest-bar-in-the-city title, McSorley's, who just celebrated Birthday No. 161, have to say about this? Here's what manager Gregory de la Haba told the News:

"McSorley's is the oldest continuously operating bar in New York City, and it’s the most authentic — hands down. What you are looking for is authenticity and not age.

"It's a fine bar," he said of Neir's. "So is the White Horse and Fanelli's and P.J. Clarke's. It’s not easy making a go of it in this city."

As for Neir's, Mae West allegedly first performed there … it's also known for this scene from "GoodFellas" …

B&H Dairy and Downtown Bakery: Still inexpensive, still good

[EVG file photo of Downtown Bakery]

Over at Eater yesterday, Robert Sietsema contributed "Another Dozen Cheap Eats Classics in New York City" list … which includes two EVG favorites:

• B&H Dairy at 127 Second Ave. between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. "Since 1947 it’s been catering to dieters, vegetarians, and cheap dining enthusiasts, who fill up on a bowl of soup and buttered challah bread made right on the premises — it threatens to overshadow everything else."

• Downtown Bakery at 69 First Ave. between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street. The restaurant "serves an all-Mex menu of cut-rate burritos, breakfast tacos, enchiladas, chilaquiles, hard- and soft-shell tacos, and other quick grab-and-go delights, many with a Pueblan flair."

Feelings

Joy Division circa 1979 with "Disorder."