Noted

Tompkins Square Park today... via Bobby Williams...

May 14

EVG reader Chris spotted this late this afternoon along East 10th Street by the Park... While there isn't a newspaper included to date the shot, we checked in with our friends at the Astronomical Applications Dept., U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. They confirmed that the Altitude and Azimuth of the sun as seen in the photo lines up with the projections for this date.

Bummer

"Sorry I hit your bummer"? Anyway, nice of the worker to leave a note with a phone number and his license plate... Would have been too easy to simply drive away, leaving behind a dented bumper. Spotted on East 11th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C today by Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Zoltar entreating the children, by Bobby Williams]

Future of Katz's looks solid (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Not everyone wants to see Beyonce's bikini-clad privates (BoweryBoogie)

The green community gardens of the East Village (Gog in NYC)

At look at Preserve24 on East Houston near Allen (The New York Times)

Suspect wanted in shooting of cop on LES nabbed in Virginia (The Lo-Down)

Fewer pot busts in NYC (Runnin' Scared)

The sites and and sounds of the East Village, but no cats (Slum Goddess)

And tonight... via the EV Grieve inbox... at 7:30, the Tryptych Reading Series presents filmmaker poets Stephanie Gray and Jonas Mekas. Gray will also show super 8 film. At: Envoy Enterprises, 87 Rivington (bet Orchard & Ludlow)

Tinto Fino is closing on First Avenue

Several readers have told us that Tinto Fino, the speciality wine shop at 85 First Ave. (just north of East Fifth Street), is closing... here is part of the note that the owners sent to its customers...

A Tinto Fino Farewell

To our Beloved Customers of Tinto Fino:

Those of you that have not been by the shop in the past few weeks are perhaps wondering why it seems like you haven´t heard from us in a while. Please know and understand how incredibly difficult it has been to form the words it takes to tell you all, our amazing clientele and friends, that with great humility and infinite sadness, Tinto Fino will be officially closing its door Friday, May 24th.

A small business like Tinto Fino faces many obstacles over the course of its life, which in our case is seven years. This past year has proved to be particularly challenging, and sadly, we’ve come to realize that Tinto Fino will not be able to overcome the accumulative woes and blows it has faced throughout this incredible journey of becoming your neighborhood wine shop.

Amazingly, we’ve sold a LOT of Spanish wine here, thanks to all of you, our loyal customers. Truth is, we’ve been only kept alive, in every way, by your constant support, patronage and love for what we do. The relationships this store has developed and so effortlessly nurtured are the most valuable asset it ever had — we have nothing but love for this amazing community of neighbors and wine lovers.


Please note our upcoming hours of operation:

Tuesday, May 14th – Friday, May 17th, 1pm – 10pm

May 18th - May 22nd – CLOSED

NEXT Thursday May 23rd & Friday May 24th, 1pm-10pm

Tinto Fino's LAST TWO days of inventory clearance and Memorial Day Stock up/Sip up. OR just an excuse to stock up for the long weekend and give Tinto Fino a proper goodbye.
Wine (and likely, tears) will be flowing!

Rebranding Bowery and Bond

[EVG file photo]

The storefront on the southwest corner of Bond and the Bowery has sat empty since the Washington Mutual closed up in March 2009 ... the space has gone though an assortment of brokers...

Previously, the space was "the new intersection of cool."


It was also a photogenic intersection for Bringing it On...


And most recently — a pitstop for Claire Forlani's disembodied scotch ad hands...

Now, there's a new listing at RKF for the corner space... say hello to "the new 328 Bowery ... where Bowery meets Bond" ...



...and your upscale neighbors...



No word on asking rents. The listing does note that an "all new storefront [will] be delivered Summer 2013."

Meanwhile, last call for our Bowery-Bond nickname to take off — BowBo.

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue

As you may have heard yesterday, Mee Noodle Shop is returning to the East Village after a seven-year absence, as Eater first reported.

Mee was previously on the northwest corner of First Avenue and 13th Street — now home to a Starbucks and that new stack of apartments.

So Mee Noodle Shop, once a favorite spot for Allen Ginsburg (steamed flounder in ginger sauce), is taking a storefront a few doors up from its previous location of 15 years ... to the space recently vacated by Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery.

Up until last week, designer Demian Repucci had plans to open a pizzeria here at 223 First Ave. Bruno Pizza LLC was on this month's CB3/SLA committee docket. This would be the first time running a restaurant for Repucci, who along with designer Thomas Schlesser, won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Restaurant Design for his work with Blackbird Restaurant in Chicago.

However, the lease didn't work out, and Repucci said via email that he is working on securing another space.

A broker told Eater that the Mee should be open in a month or so, though that seems really optimistic ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in rumors of another Starbucks opening in the East Village

Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant

The East Village Eye archive officially goes online this week

From the EV Grieve inbox...

All 72 issues of the East Village Eye, the legendary magazine published from 1979 to 1987 that covered and was actively engaged in the arts, politics and social currents of the time, are being scanned and preserved in searchable PDFs. While we undergo development of several integrated projects, we begin with ten full issues deemed to contain the most relevant fashion-related content. This launch coincides with the current show at the Metropolitan Museum of New York entitled “Punk: Chaos to Couture,” which we seek to augment with this contribution.

Not every rock'n roll-filled mag covers fashion, but a key part of the reaction to the purposely dressed-down, self-effacing attitude of the previous era was to consciously use clothing to display individual creativity, vitality and viewpoint. This is why the Eye devoted pages to the work of Animal X, Betsy Johnson, Manic Panic, Natasha, Patricia Field, Trash & Vaudeville and many other such leaders in the field, not forgetting the naturally stylish on the streets of New York, from the Lower East Side to the South Bronx.

Keep looking for new developments here, where we will continue to add to the discourse with more issues and other materials about the Eye, the East Village and the era. And don't forget to follow our Twitter page @EastVillageEye for more news and updates.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with Leonard Abrams, publisher of the East Village Eye

9th Street Bakery: still on a month-to-month lease, and serving giant treats

Back in January, we first reported that 9th St. Bakery, which has been around since 1926, will have to close due to a rent hike ... as well as a downturn in business.

However, the longtime bakery is still holding on with a month-to-month lease. Oleg, who has owned the bakery with his wife Tetyana since the 1990s, remains hopeful of staying open through the summer.

The other day, Oleg told EVG contributor Derek Berg that they are still waiting to hear from the landlord about a rent increase.

Meanwhile, they still continue to sell giant treats...







Oleg says that he plans to start a delivery service in the event that they close. There will be a minimum order of $7. Hopefully it will never have to come to that.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: 9th St. Bakery is closing after 87 years (59 comments)

[Photos by Derek Berg]

Films on the Green return to Tompkins Square Park this summer for 2 Friday nights

From the EV Grieve inbox...

The French Embassy along with NYC Parks and Recreation is thrilled to announce the 6th annual Films on the Green festival. Films on the Green is a free out-door French film festival that brings classic and contemporary French cinema to New Yorkers in different parks around the city, select Fridays throughout the summer, beginning June 7.

Events are free and open to the public. Not to worry there are English subtitles!

This year's theme celebrates love — " à la française," the seduction, the passion, and the jealousy. French DJ’s from WNYU will spin music before the screening, so make sure to get there early! Films begin at sunset (approx. 8:30), we invite you to pack a picnic and bring a blanket to enjoy this summer’s festival.

Oui! Uh, and here are the two screening slated for Tompkins Square Park:

June 28 — "Angel and Tony" by Delaporte

July 5 — "Heartbreaker" by Chaumeil

As for other outdoor movies... DNAinfo had a rundown yesterday of some of the free movies showing around the city this summer. No word yet on any Thursday night screenings in Tompkins Square Park.