Report: M9 service will be restored, expanded

[Avenue B, June 2010]

The Daily News is reporting that the M9 service will be restored and expanded starting in January ... this coming from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver... and all thanks to the MTA's improved budgetary outlook ...

The MTA slashed the M9 service back in the summer of 2010. The M9 previously traveled from Union Square, east along East 14th Street, down Avenue B, then Houston, Essex, blah, blah, before ending up in Battery Park City.

Then came the eliminated lines and rerouting and lord knows where the M9 starts now (23rd Street?) ... but it eventually travels south down Avenue C, across Houston, down Essex ... before dumping everyone off at City Hall. (Hello Mr. Mayor!)

The article doesn't mention which part of the M9 service the MTA will restore... and what this really means for East Village residents who use the bus...

Meanwhile, there's also no word on whether Silver will restore service to the Rusty Knot Party Bus.

Previously on EV Grieve:
If you depend on the bus around here, then you're kinda screwed now

East Villagers face busageddon

What's left of Aces & Eights is now on the sidewalk along Avenue A

EVG reader Anna noted that workers are clearing out 34 Avenue A this morning... site most recently of Aces & Eights (and Mo Pitkin's previously) ...

As we first reported on June 29, the address will soon be home to Ruff Club, "a social club for dogs."

Food truck favorites Mighty Quinn's taking former Vandaag space on Second Avenue

[peter radley]

There's a new restaurant opening in the former Vandaag space on Second Avenue and East Sixth Street. Eater has the scoop that the address will be home to the first "brick and mortar location" of Mighty Quinn's, a BBQ food truck, specializing in sustainable smoked meats, favored by food truck foodies in Brooklyn.

Per Eater: The "stand consistently draws the longest lines at the weekly food fest — it's one of the only lines that people will keep waiting in even when it starts to rain. The most popular menu item is his smoked brisket, which is usually gone by 1 p.m., but the stand also serves chili, ribs, and barbecued lamb."

Anyway, been a bit of a tough corner here for restaurants... there was that pita/sports bar combo that never actually opened ... Bounce Deuce ... Smoked ... and ...

Breaking: Workers unloading markety-looking things at incoming Union Market

We had an update yesterday on the incoming Union Market at Avenue A and East Houston... now with a late summer opening date...

And today, as this photo via EVG reader Marian shows, workers are bringing in refrigerated cases for the new store... Can the beef-aging facility be far behind?

Previously.

East Village Town Hall meeting tonight

[Click to enlarge]

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer hosts (presents? chairs?) the Town Hall tonight from 6-8 at the Tompkins Square Park Library branch... neighbors are encouraged to attend ... and discuss community issues and speak directly to their local elected leaders.

Perhaps we should have a Town Hall Warmup... What do you think are some major issues facing the neighborhood? (Not a broad question at all!) Perhaps:

• Rampant development
• Perceived spike in crime
• Lack of affordable housing
• Over-abundance of bars/liquor licenses/woo
• Decreasing retail diversity
• Rent hikes
• Cuts in after-school programming
• Pedestrian safety
• Potential loss of senior centers

These are broader issues, of course ... Residents will often have more specific concerns to discuss... For instance, there's always an array of topics at the 9th Precinct's Community Council meetings every month ... During the June 19 meeting, a resident complained about the noise at the 13th Step on Second Avenue... residents complained about Double Wide on East 12th Street leaving their doors open late... and, according to the minutes, "Resident complained about large bright illuminated sign from a massage parlor on St Marks."

So it's very possible someone will bring up a topic like this...

So you now have the floor to speak...Or comment.

'One Last Dance' tonight at the Bowery Poetry Club

As we've been noting, the 10-year-old Bowery Poetry Club will be closing for renovations... and tonight is the last night in the Club's current state... "There will be a better mix of food and art," founder Bob Holman said to DNAinfo's Serena Solomon, who first reported the July 17 closing.

The Club is expecting to undergo renovations for several months in advance of a relaunch that will put a stronger emphasis on food. (Here's what Bob Holman told us about the plans on July 6.)

Meanwhile, here is closing-night info via Facebook...

Everything Is Subject To Change — One Last Dance At The Bowery Poetry Club

8 pm
Join us as we gather to kiss the stage at Bowery Poetry Club for the last time before it closes and goes the way of the new Bowery.

Performances by:
Farbeon
Eliel Lucero
Leticia Viloria
A Brief View of the Hudson
Mr Symphonics Shawn Randall
Duv
Grace Kalambay
Sean T. Hanratty and the Mighty Mighty
Rev. Jen Miller
Faceboy
Robert Prichard
Jessica Delfino
Diane O'Debra
Freestyle Pyramid w/ Rabbi Darkside, Hired Gun, and 4th Friday Fam!
Shappy Seasholtz live from Austin, TX!
and many more surprises!!!

Here are a few thoughts on the closing via Deanna Zandt's Extra Helping tumblr (she ran the Club's outreach and administration):

A huge portion of the BPC community is devastated by this news, understandably. Bowery is one of the last safe havens in New York for transgressive artists, poets and musicians to work out and celebrate their creations. It's one of the only places that you can walk into on any given night and run into one of your heroes accidentally.

...

Here's hoping both the Club's rebirth brings along lots of the history of this magical space, and that a new space welcoming the bleeding, racous edge of culture can still be born in the the five boroughs.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Is Duane Park in the Bowery Poetry Club's future?

What is happening with the Bowery Poetry Club?

Bob Holman on the future of the Bowery Poetry Club

The Beagle is closed for renovations

Missed this one... Several readers have pointed out that The Beagle on Avenue A is closed for renovations... been closed now for 10 days or so...

Restaurateur/Portlander Matthew Piacentini told Eater back on July 7 that The Beagle 2.0 "will have a full food menu to go along with the drinks." Also: "We're making the space more comfortable, adding some lovely banquettes, improving the sound level, repairing some floors and doors, that sort of thing."

The Beagle is expected to reopen in August.

It first opened 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.

Never been here ourselves. Looked at the menu a few times and kept walking. Did you try it?

The Townho is for sale

Hijinks on East 10th Street.

Anyway, there's a new broker for this neo-classical townhouse at 104 E. 10th St. home... where playwright, poet and performance artist Edgar Oliver once lived, as Jeremiah wrote at Vanishing New York here.

The price is now $3.9 million, per Streeteasy. The price started at $6 million back in March 2011.

And hope the brokers clean the sign before today's open house from noon to 2 p.m. (Appointment only!)

A Good Parking Ticket Samaritan on East 11th Street

Near First Avenue...

Report: Citi Bikes launch now happening in August, most likely

[Shawn Chittle]

The city’s bike-share system will launch in August, not the previously announced start date of July (Streetsblog ... previously)