East Village Tobacco & Variety Shop is closing after 6 months on East 9th Street

[Photo Friday by Steven]

After less than 6 months in business, the East Village Tobacco & Variety Shop is closing this week here at 350 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. As the sign shows, there is a going-out-of-business sale.

The store sells some standard deli fare (sodas, water, cigarettes, etc.) and a few seemingly random items such as children's clothing and perfume.

The space was previously home to A.K. Shoe Repair, which closed last August. The proprietor said that he was no longer able to sustain the business after his landlord raised the rent from $2k to $4.5k a month.

H/T William Klayer

[Updated] Milling about East Second Street tonight

In case your driving or parking plans were to take you to East Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue tonight...



The street is scheduled for roadway milling, as the plentiful signage along the block shows... (some signs pointed to milling action on Friday evening, but I didn't see any)...

Despite all the signs, someone should tell the pigeons about the milling and temporary displacement of the buffet...



No signs just yet about when the resurfacing will take place.

-----

And unrelated ... but while we are on this block... The TLC Tea House opened back on March 18...


[Photo from March 19]

They serve coffee, tea, sandwiches ... catering, in particular, to the various drivers (cabs, car services) who take a break on this block...

Updated 3/29

EVG reader Gacjon shared photos of the milling action last evening...

Shinbashi Restaurant arrives on 1st Avenue

The sign is up for Shinbashi, a new Japanese restaurant at 85 First Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street.

We don't know too much about this business. They were on the CB3 SLA docket for a beer-wine license last September, though it was not heard before the committee. (The questionnaire for the applicant has very little information aside from proposed hours and seating — 18 tables with 72 seats.)

And it appears as if the proprietors added in the sushi lettering from the hardware store after the fact on the sign....



The address was previously home to the wine shop Tinto Fino, which closed in May 2013.

Week in Grieview

[The skateboard phone on St. Mark's Place via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

"Concrete blowout" at Broadway condo project damages neighboring building (Wednesday)

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14 (Tuesday)

Out and About with Brother Rasheim (Wednesday)

Lavagna is helping an East Village resident in his fight against cancer (Thursday)

Comptroller Scott Stringer looking at city's decision to lift deed at the former Rivington House (Wednesday)

Construction watch: 500 E. 14th St. (plus, Extell construction site still keeping residents up at night) (Thursday)

319 E. Sixth St. is for sale; conversion to single-family residence a possibility (Monday)

Confessional closes on East Sixth Street ahead of a relocation (Monday)

An enchanted yarn garden on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Fake cops rob man on Third Avenue (Wednesday)

Bluestone Lane Coffee opens next week at 51 Astor Place (Friday)

Report: An interest in keeping the Associated on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

The morning bread dump in Tompkins Square Park (Monday, 32 comments)

The former Contrada space remains on the market, though now with less key money (Tuesday)

Top Nails is moving next door on Avenue A (Monday)

Tribeca Pediatrics opening an outpost on First Avenue (Friday)

LinkNYC privacy concerns (Thursday)

The First Avenue Ricky's is now empty (Monday)

Media coverage of Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan getting the OK from City Council (Wednesday)

Report: M9 stop on Avenue C gets light after seven years in the dark (Tuesday)

Space at 249 E. Houston is for rent, and an update on the proposed 13-floor building on the block (Monday)

A quick trip to St. Mark's Place circa 1978 (Friday)

Former Bollywood rental shop becoming a hair salon on East Sixth Street (Thursday)

Laundromat-replacing laundromat closing on East 10th Street (Wednesday)

... and, this past week, this David Bowie stencil arrived outside the F stop on Second Avenue... courtesy of @zimad_art...





Previously

Mystery ball mysteriously arrives in Washington Square Park

That ball that was spotted outside Webster Hall on Thursday...


[Photo by Nora Gala]

...was seen in Washington Square Park yesterday, as our blogging friend Roger_Paw pointed out...



Perhaps it rolled there?

Noted

[Photo by Steven]

Spotted on St. Mark's Place at First Avenue on the side of Foot Gear Plus...

A memorial on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

There was a memorial tonight for Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, the two victims of the Second Avenue explosion on this date last year...


[LS]


[Photo by EVG reader Daniel]


[Photo by EVG reader Daniel]

March 26, 2015 — March 26, 2016

Today is the one-year anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion.

And there are several articles marking the one-year point. NY1 talks with Mildred Guy, who lived at 119 Second Ave. for 45 years.

[S]he is still reminiscing about her old life but feeling optimistic about the future.

“I'm just grateful. I feel blessed,” she said.

While the blast and fire destroyed three buildings — 45 East Seventh St. (119 Second Ave.), 121 Second Ave. and 123 Second Ave., 15 units in total — several apartments next door at No. 125 also received substantial damage

Inside Edition, the syndicated newsmagazine, talks with several residents, including Bonnie Ramon, who lived at 125 Second Ave. She lost everything from the smoke and water damage, and eventually found a place to say in Brooklyn. She has returned, though.

"I grew up on the Lower East Side; the East Village is home to me," she said. "It’s hard not to come back."

Authorities have said that siphoned gas at 121 Second Ave. is to blame for the explosion, which killed Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, and injured two dozen other people. A 21-year-old student visiting from Berkeley during spring break lost an eye and fractured his larynx. Two firefighters also suffered serious injuries.

On Feb. 11, the DA charged No. 119 and 121 landlord Maria Hrynenko and her son, Michael Hrynenko Jr., with involuntary manslaughter ... as well as contractor Dilber Kukic and an unlicensed plumber, Athanasios Ioannidis. (A fifth person, Andrew Trombettas, faces charges for supplying his license to Ioannidis.) All pleaded not guilty.

Several weeks ago, George Pasternak, the landlord of 123 Second Ave., put his vacant plot of land up for sale, asking $9.7 million.

Today at 1, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez is holding a press conference to reflect on the tragedy and share legislative measures introduced to prevent future disasters, according to the announcement.

Nora Brooks, who lived on the top floor of No. 123, relocated to Portland, Ore., with her husband Matthew.

She told Inside Edition: "I really would like people to appreciate what Maria (Hrynenko) has taken from people; the lasting effect on the neighborhood and the lives of the people who live there."

I will post photos and a recap from the press conference on Monday morning.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street

How displaced residents are faring after the 2nd Avenue gas explosion

Living out of a suitcase 6 months after the 2nd Avenue explosion

Moving on — and feeling lucky — after the 2nd Avenue explosion

A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue

Updated: 2nd Ave. explosion — landlord, 3 others charged with 2nd degree manslaughter; showed 'a blatant and callous disregard for human life'

Former residents talk about landlord Maria Hrynenko: 'it was clear she wanted to get rid of anyone with a rent-regulated apartment'

Report: 123 2nd Ave. is for sale

Selling 123 Second Ave.

And read our interviews with longtime residents of 45 E. Seventh St. Mildred Guy and Diane McLean.

What about Bob?

Was browsing the Other Music website I saw that there's a Replacements LP box coming out next week showcasing the Minneapolis-based band's Sire years — Tim (1985), Pleased to Meet Me (1987), Don’t Tell A Soul (1989), and All Shook Down (1990).

The video above is from the Twin/Tone years... the video is from September 1981... and features a handful of songs from their debut release, Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. (The Twin/Tone YouTube page has five other videos from this show.)

And Bob Stinson (RIP) was a great guitar player.

Good Friday on Avenue B

From the Church of Saint Brigid - Saint Emeric on Avenue B and East Eighth Street...the "Way of the Cross" procession for Good Friday...





More realistic this year... (Jesus and the Roman guards were not wearing tennis shoes, for instance, though I understand why you'd want to wear comfortable footwear for this.)

Photos by Michael Paul Photography

EV Grieve Etc.: Demolition concerns over the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue

[Photo Wednesday at 51 Astor Place by Derek Berg]

Neighbors worry about what Icon might do to the former Chase branch on Second Avenue (The Villager... previously on EVG)

Best dive bars in NYC (Gothamist)

Parents remember their son, Colton Daniel Hudson, 23, who loved living in the East Village (The Villager)

A visit to Julie's Vintage on East Second Street (B+B)

Red-tailed hawk egg watch in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)


[Christo on watch via Bobby Williams]

Check out the calendar of upcoming events in the Back Room at HiFi on Avenue A (HiFi)

Somehow the LES is getting another hotel (The Lo-Down)

Power-washing 190 Bowery (Curbed)

Broadway and East Fourth Street (Tower Records, the MLB Mancave) is empty again (Flaming Pablum)

Friends Seminary on East 16th Street accused of fraud to secure LPC approval for $67M renovation (DNAinfo)

Kimlau Square in Chinatown is ready for rehabilitation (BoweryBoogie)

A month-long celebration of Albert Camus (The New York Times)

NYC 2015 population increased to 8,550,405 (NY Yimby)

Cuomo: Make Julius' Bar a historic landmark (DNAinfo)

Hogs & Heifers now a vanilla box (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

... and at the 6 & B Community Garden Easter Sunday... via the EVG inbox ...

A quick trip to St. Mark's Place circa 1978

[Click photo to go big]

This photo has been making the rounds in recent weeks... and several readers have forwarded me a copy via the Dirty Old 1970's New York City page on Facebook.

The photo by Manel Armengol faces east on Saint Mark's Place at Third Avenue, circa 1978.

And a fairly half-assed attempt to make a now-then comparison...

Tribeca Pediatrics opening an outpost on 1st Avenue

An EVG reader (and parent) shares the news that Tribeca Pediatrics is opening an office at 205 First Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

The storefront previously housed the Mecca of Hair.

As for Tribeca Pediatrics, there's no word yet on when they will apply for a beer-wine license — just to have something to pair with the Pentacel.

Bluestone Lane Coffee opens next week at 51 Astor Place

This, according to Twitter...

The new #AstorPlace coming so soon. Oh yeah, there's also a #BluestoneLane set to open next week there too... pic.twitter.com/4vCo4mSf33

— Bluestone Lane (@BluestoneLane) March 24, 2016

The cafe/coffee shop is on the Fourth Avenue side next to the front entrance/red rabbit of 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star ...


[EV Arrow file photo]

Bluestone also has a location across the street in the lobby of 770 Broadway.

And here's more about Bluestone Lane Coffee via their website:

Bluestone Lane offers a refined product proposition dedicated to producing the highest quality coffee and complimentary foods, delivered in an engaging way. We are focused on creating environments where customers are immersed in the experience and leave feeling like a local.

Bluestone Lane Coffee is influenced from the renowned coffee culture hub of Melbourne, Australia, where premium coffee is a way of life.

With Bluestone's opening, 51 Astor Place will have all its retail slots filled ... alongside Chopt, CVS and Flywheel Sports.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 retail spaces available at 51 Astor Place (22 comments)

You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

Chopping soon signage up at the Death Star

Here's the Bluestone Lane Coffee signage at 51 Astor Place

Spin cycle: Flywheel Sports opening next month in 51 Astor Place

It was a nice day for a ride along Avenue A

Photo by Derek Berg

Ball of confusion

[Photo by Nora Gala]

Several readers noted the giant ball (looking slightly damaged) outside Webster Hall on East 11th Street near Fourth Avenue this morning... Majority opinion: Mini Death Star re-creation!

Apparently it was a loadout from a party...

An enchanted yarn garden on St. Mark's Place

At Avenue A... yarn garden courtesy of @madebylondon ...

Photo by Derek Berg

Previously on EV Grieve:
An evolution in yarn at La Plaza Cultural

Construction watch: 500 E. 14th St. (plus, Extell construction site still keeping residents up at night)

Extell Development is running a generator non-stop at their construction site on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, according to residents who live adjacent to the property.

We heard from residents about construction noise several times ... most recently in December, and specifically about the generators that are running at the site closer to Avenue A.

As previously reported, Extell is putting up two 7-floor retail-residential buildings ... 500 E. 14th St. at Avenue A will have 106 residential units … while, further to the east, 524 E. 14th St. will house 44 residential units.

A resident whose apartment faces the construction shared this:

It is SO loud — with windows closed — that it keeps me up all night.

An email that I tried to send to the building company bounced back.

So infuriating!

The community email address that's posted on the East 14th Street field office has apparently never worked... and calls to 311 haven't accomplished anything, residents claim.

A look through the blogger portals along East 14th Street reveals a whole lot of pumping going on inside the construction pit... (we have noted the standing water on the site, freezing and thawing)...







While works seems to be progressing fairly quickly at the nearby 438 E. 12th St. condo build, where there are five floors above ground, this project still looks to be focused on creating the foundation.



Previously on EV Grieve:
A question about Extell construction noise on East 14th Street

Community meeting tonight to address construction noise at Extell's East 14th Street development sites

New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

1st activity at 500 E. 14th St. since the demolition phase, and when the standing water froze

Lavagna is helping an East Village resident in his fight against cancer

East Village resident Brett Kilroe was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer in 2011. According to his friends, he was denied coverage from insurance because it was considered to be a pre-existing condition.

Donations have helped Kilroe, an art director who has worked with Kings of Leon, the Strokes and Alabama Shakes, get the care he needs. However, his ongoing treatment continues. (According to the Kings of Leon Facebook page, the cancer has spread to Kilroe's skull, "which is relatively good news because it didn’t spread to his brain, and doctors believe it can be treated with targeted radiation.")

Throughout 2016, Lavagna, the excellent Italian restaurant at 545 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is helping with Kilroe's expenses.

On the last Monday of every month, Lavagna will donate 100 percent of the food and drink sales (before tax and tip) to anyone making a reservation and referencing the code Brett2016.

You can make reservations via Open Table or by calling the restaurant at (212) 979-1005.

You can read more about Kilroe via SweetRelief.org.

LinkNYC privacy concerns

Happy #NationalPuppyDay to NYC's tech-savvy dogs! 🐾 A perfect day to walk to a Link, but please, #dontpeeonthewifi pic.twitter.com/JJnlNsBFR1

— LinkNYC (@LinkNYC) March 23, 2016

Previous posts about LinkNYC, the city's new network of [free] Wi-Fi hubs, drew a few privacy concerns from readers.

Last week, the New York Civil Liberties Union shared their own privacy concerns with Mayor de Blasio, who officially launched the network on Feb. 18. Here's part of the NYCLU news release:

LinkNYC ... will eventually become a network of as many as 7,500 to 10,000 public kiosks offering fast and free Wi-Fi throughout all five boroughs. The sheer volume of information gathered by this powerful network will create a massive database of information that will present attractive opportunities for hackers and for law enforcement surveillance, and will carry an undue risk of abuse, misuse and unauthorized access.

“Internet access is not a choice, it’s a modern-life necessity,” said Mariko Hirose, senior staff attorney at the NYCLU. “The city’s public Wi-Fi network should set the bar for privacy and security to help ensure that New Yorkers do not have to sacrifice their rights and freedoms to sign online.”

In order to register for LinkNYC, users must submit their e-mail addresses and agree to allow CityBridge to collect information about what websites they visit on their devices, where and how long they linger on certain information on a webpage, and what links they click on. CityBridge’s privacy policy only offers to make “reasonable efforts” to clear out this massive amount of personally identifiable user information, and even then, only if there have been 12 months of user inactivity. New Yorkers who use LinkNYC regularly will have their personally identifiable information stored for a lifetime and beyond.

However, LinkNYC and city spokespeople offered their reassurances to The Huffington Post:

Jen Hensley, general manager of LinkNYC, told The Huffington Post that the company would never sell a user’s private information and that law enforcement doesn’t have unfettered access to the data.

“CityBridge would require a subpoena or similar lawful request before sharing any data with the NYPD or law enforcement, and we will make every effort to communicate government requests to impacted users,” Hensley said.

And Natalie Grybauskas, a spokeswoman for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, told HuffPost there are privacy protections in place on the public Wi-Fi system.

“New York City and CityBridge have created customer-first privacy protections to ensure our users’ personal information stays that way — personal,” Grybauskas said.

Ayyway, we learned about all this in an article at The Next Web from Tuesday titled New York has just opened a massive public spying network.

H/T Dr. Bop!