A few more details on Mee Noodle Shop's return to the East Village

[From May]

Mee Noodle Shop is returning to First Avenue after a seven-year absence, as Eater first reported last month.

This week's issue of The Villager has a few more details, including:

• The broker "struck a favorable deal with the landlord that allowed the restaurant to set up the space without having to pay rent for the duration of construction."

• According to Mee's Joyce Chi, the restaurant will be reopening in about five months.

The new address is 223 First Ave., two storefronts to the north of the previous Mee location. That building apparently had a cracked infrastructure ... the building on the corner of East 13th Street is now home to a Starbucks and that new stack of apartments.

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

Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)

Storm brings down tree on St. Mark's Place

Uh-oh. @gaminette reports that tonight's stormy-ish weather uprooted this tree outside Natori on St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... amazingly, it doesn't appear that the tree caused any damage... missing a mini-van ... and any passersby...

Ray's Candy Store gets a new 1-year lease

From the "Finally There's Some Good Fucking News Department":

Ray has secured a new one-year lease for his beloved shop on Avenue A. There had been some worries about a huge rent hike and all that usual stuff. However, as we understand it, the increase is quite modest.

And, as you can see from that photo via Ray's Facebook page, he is very happy. And so are we.

Boardwalk Empire magically turns John's of 12th Street into Whitings Pharmacy for the day

HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" is back in the neighborhood filming scenes for its upcoming season... and the crew returned to a favorite spot — the great John's of 12th Street ... making things all 1920s-ish...



The restaurant is closed tonight for filming... back with the red sauce tomorrow...

Photos via the John's of 12th Street Facebook page.

Report: Arlene's Grocery asks artist to remove his 'Seven Deadly Sins' paintings

Arlene's Grocery told artist Robert Preston to remove his new collection of paintings one day after their debut at the Stanton Street music venue, the Daily News reported today.

The collection included Bloomberg as "wrath" and President Obama in an Egyptian headdress as "pride."

"It just wasn't our style," explained Julia Darling, Arlene's manager. "It sort of insults the viewer; it's really kind of beating us over the head with a message."

"I was pretty shocked. I didn't expect it," Preston told Rheana Murray. The paintings made their debut Monday night. Management asked him to remove the work on Tuesday.

"I lived on Christie and Rivington in the early '80s," he said. "It was a very different neighborhood. I don't think anyone would have had a problem with those paintings back then."

Find the article and photos of the paintings here.

There is currently no wait for the Tompkins Square Park ping-pong table

Photo by Bobby Williams

O Brother! Rain KOs Films in Tompkins Square Park tonight

[Where art thou derecho?]

From the Films in Tompkins Facebook page:

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, tonight's screening of O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU has been postponed until Thursday, AUGUST 22nd. Films In Tompkins will resume as scheduled next Thursday with RUSHMORE.

Rainy weather caused the cancellation of last Thursday's screening of "Romeo + Juliet," which will now play on Aug. 15.

How can I really be expected to post today when heavy thunderstorms are likely on the way?

As you may have heard, weather forecast people have been tossing around the D word in reporting today's weather — dope Derecho.

What is a derecho? Let's go to USA Today for the definition:

A derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with a band or shelf of rapidly moving thunderstorms.

So far, it seems our area will, fortunately, just see the side effects (possible/probable thunderstorms, heavy rain, possible flooding, unchecked hysteria).



So you should have your phone at the ready for some blog-worthy Instagrams! (Hint.) And stand in line for snacks at Trader Joe's, though it's likely too late.

Anyway! Here are photos from last July ... when derecho-like weather came our way ... these shots via EVG reader Tony Devers...

And!

[Bobby Williams]

[Bobby Williams]

[EVG reader Katja]

And do be careful today and tonight.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How can I really be expected to post today when 78 degrees™ is on the way?

How can I really be expected to post today when the Storm of Feb. 8™ is on the way?

Tu Casa Recording Studio is leaving Avenue B

We heard a rumor last month that Tu Casa Recording Studio was going to leave its longtime home at 95 Avenue B between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

Now, this weekend, there's a Tag Sale at the studio. Per the Facebook invite:

Drums, Guitar amps, Base amps, PA, etc, everything most go.

(bring your guitar or bass to test amps)

Saturday 11 am - 3 pm and Sunday 12 noon - 4 pm

And there's currently a listing for the space in the co-op building.

Ground and first floor are zoned commercial, third and fourth floors are zone Residential

Description

Ground floor Commercial Store, presently used as a music studio, 12ft ceilings. Suitable for all kinds of legal retail use

The current price is $1.095 million.

Tu Casa has been around since 1972. A very lengthy list of musicians have played here through the years... including Butch Morris, Black Flag, the Bush Tetras, Dee Dee Ramone, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs... (Find more names here.)

At this time, it's unclear if Mario is moving Tu Casa to a new space in Brooklyn ... or closing altogether.

And now, a post about Citi Bikes

Item!

EVG regular Pinhead spotted this attempt at Citi Yuks over on Sixth Avenue and 18th Street...



Item!

EVG reader lukeavC spotted this trash piled up on a docking station on Fifteenth Street and Five Avenue...



Item!

DNAinfo published an article yesterday titled "East Village's Citi Bike Stations Are Often Empty."

True!

Per the article:

If you want to ride a Citi Bike in Alphabet City, you'd better get up early.

Stations around Tompkins Square Park and along Avenues C and D are emptying by 8 a.m. — and they're staying that way through much of the day, Citi Bike data shows.