Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Kinofest NYC kicks off tomorrow; a weekend of films in the East Village



From the EV Grieve inbox...

Kinofest NYC is proud to announce its program for its fourth festival featuring films from Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries. This year's festival will include 10 screenings, presenting more than 25 short and 4 feature films from independent filmmakers from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the UK and the US.

The festival will kick off tomorrow at the Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 E. 79th St, and will end on Sunday. Film screenings will take place at two East Village cultural institutions: The Ukrainian Museum, 222 E. 6th St., and the Anthology Film Archives at 32 Second Ave.

This year's festival will feature seven short films from the Kyiv-based collective called "Goodbye, Ukraine!" In 2012, this group of filmmakers completed an anthology of 34 short films that examine and explore the reasons why hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have left their country since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. According to a recent report by the BBC, 1.5 million Ukrainians have left their homeland in search of greater economic opportunities that are not available in Ukraine.

Go here for schedule and ticket information.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with Andrew Kotliar, festival director for Kinofest NYC

Video break: NYC in 3 words

Via Cokau Lab, an audiovisual studio based in ... Paris.

3 words about this video: Too much High Line! Damn, that's four! Too much Highline!

And maybe we should do an "East Village in 3 words" video...

h/t @guywasko

Out and About in the East Village — 2013 recap



We're taking a week off to provide a quick recap...

So! Here's a look back at our 12 subjects from 2013 ... many thanks to East Village-based photographer James Maher and everyone who has taken part in this series... we'll return next week with Out and About in the East Village ...

• Jan. 9 — Lee Schramm

• Jan. 16 — Chris Riffle

• Jan. 23 — Jane Kelton and Little Egg

• Jan. 30 — Paul Kostabi

• Feb. 6 — Cheryl Pyle

• Feb. 13 — Mike Bakaty

• Feb. 20 — Jacquelyn Gallo

• Feb. 27 — Reverend Jacqui Lewis

• March 6 — Manny Garcia

• March 13 — Annette “Mistress Evil” Moccaldi

• March 20 — Katie Kenney

• March 27 — Lucille Krasne

And here is a link to our profiles from 2012.

Boca Chica apparently won't be reopening on First Avenue; and the return of Golden Cadillac


[Via Facebook]

In late February, Boca Chica, the inexpensive Latin American restaurant on First Avenue at First Street, closed its doors, though perhaps only temporarily. As first reported by Serena Solomon at DNAinfo, two partners abruptly exited the business, and the remaining owner was "frantically searching for new partners." The remaining partner was hopeful to continue operations.

Apparently that won't happen here. Paperwork on file (PDF) ahead of Monday's CB3/SLA meeting show that a bar-restaurant called Golden Cadillac is in the works for the space.



There's extensive background about the proprietors at the CB3 website. Francis Derby, who was part of the opening team of wd~50 under Chef Wylie Dufresne and a one-time sous chef at Momofuku Ssam Bar, is listed as the executive chef.

Giuseppe Gonzalez, a veteran of Dutch Kills and PKNY/Painkiller, is listed as "head barman." James Tune, general manager of Pegu in Soho, is listed as the general manager.

The paperwork includes a sample menu...



... and renderings...



This isn't the first time that we've heard about Golden Cadillac. Time Out reported in November 2011 that the new venture from the above-mentioned folks was opening on East 13th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. But that never materialized, for whatever reasons.

At that time, Gonzalez described the look this way: "Remember that bar called Volpe's in 'Mean Streets'? That's the way Golden Cadillac's going to look — an old Italian social club, but with tons of Art Deco details."

Boca Chica opened in March 1989. As predicted, the high-scale evolution of this corridor continues.

Previously.

Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?



So there are BIG plans in place for the busy instersection of Lafayette and East Houston. The property owner has designs on demolishing the bar Puck Fair (ever been? I haven't) and the BP station, as DNAinfo first reported on Monday.

Plans for the 7-story, 60,000-square-foot office-retail space were unveiled Monday night during Community Board 2's landmarks committee meeting, as reported by Curbed.

Here we go.



And! An upclose view...



I just fell off the rendering's balcony.

There are still a lot of hurdles to get this through city planning and all that. Read the details at Curbed and DNAinfo.

Anyway, if it all works out, then these new tenants will have the best views of the Calvin Klein billboard — and its rotating batch of ballsacks and boobs — in the city...




[Renderings up top: dbox for COOKFOX]

New 6-floor apartment building under way on Avenue B



An EVG reader emailed us this photo... Workers have arrived to start digging in at the former Croxley Ales beer garden at 26 Avenue B. As we reported in November, the city has OK'd plans here for a six-story apartment building with ground-floor retail space.

According to documents filed with the DOB, the building will contain eight residential units ... not to mention provide ample opportunities to go next door for "unbeatable world famous wing deals."

The sign on the plywood states that the work will be completed here last month.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Croxley Ales beer garden ready for development

Things that I didn't notice before: The beer garden at Croxley Ales has closed

Deal apparently in place for former Croxley Ales beer garden

[Updated] 6-story apartment building ready to rise from the former Croxley Ales beer garden

Deal of the day: FroYo shop for sale on St. Mark's Place

Spotted on Craigslist:

Busy Self-Serve frozen yogurt shop in East Village for sale buy owner.

Store is located on St. Marks Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. Extremely high foot traffic area 7 days a week.

Great for frozen yogurt business or other fast food concepts.

Store has been in business since 2008. Absentee owner looking to sell.

9 years, 6 months remaining on new lease with new 2013 tax base year.

750 SF plus basement storage space. Plenty of space for outdoor seating as well.

Current monthly rent way below market at $6200.

The listing doesn't mention the shop by name, but it has to be Yogurt Station, which recently reopened after a several-months hiatus.

New sign in the works at Bowery Poetry



Duane Park opened in the former Bowery Poetry Club space last month... Duane Park holds forth Tuesday through Saturday while Bowery Poetry has the space Saturday afternoons, Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, yesterday, workers continued to assemble the space's new sign...

For a look at the Duane Park interior and menu, head on over to Eater.

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

Looking at Friday's Spotlight Speakeasy at Alphabet City Sanctuary



From the EV Grieve inbox...

On Friday, Alphabet City Sanctuary, 638 E. Sixth St., is hosting its next Spotlight Speakeasy event ... a monthly performance series where local artists share their work in an informal yet intimate environment.

Doors at 8:30 pm
Show starts at 9 pm
Suggested donation: $10 (all proceeds go directly to the artists)

Lineup to include:

Nicole Callihan, poet

Sean McMahon, singer-songwriter

Bird Courage, featuring Erik Meier, Samuel R. Saffery and Sean McMahon

and a LIVE PAINTING with artist info to come!

Find the Facebook invite here.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Noted



Spotted by Bobby Williams today in Abe Lebewohl Park off East 10th Street...