Manhattenhenge, take 2

[Nothing to see here!]

After a promising and photogenic start last evening, some low-sitting clouds obscured the setting sun, spoiling the first Manhattanhenge of the year (#Disappointhenge).

However, if all goes well tonight, the sun will align with the street grid around 8:12. (Full sun on the grid!)

The next dates for Manhattanhenge 2018 are July 12 and 13.

And if you want some background on all this Manhattenhenging, read this by Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Museum of Natural History.

You had mail

So long to the tagged and broken postal relay box that was on St. Mark's Place and Avenue A ... workers hauled it off this morning.

Photo by Derek Berg

A vegan café for 9th Street

A vegan café called called V ❤️ U is coming to 428 E. Ninth St.

EVG correspondent Steven ran into its owner, Junie Ishimori, yesterday in front of the space between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Ishimori, who previously co-owned the vegan ice cream shop Stogo on 10th Street for four years, is just starting work on the café, and hopes to open by the end of the summer.

This storefront was previously Mr. Throwback, which moved across the street in December.

2 new vendors for the Bowery Market

The Bowery Market, the year-round open-air food court at 348 Bowery and Great Jones, has welcomed two new vendors.

The Fruitsand opened earlier this spring. According to their listing at the Bowery Market website, they sell "special sandwiches made with Japanese milky bread called Shokupan, organic fruits and handmade whipped cream. Japanese food that has a long history of over 100 years."

A post shared by THE FRUITSAND. (@thefruitsand) on May 12, 2018 at 11:55am PDT

On Saturday, L’Arte del Gelato, which has locations in the Chelsea Market as well as near several museums, will debut here.



A Bowery Market rep told me that they'll be adding one or two more vendors this summer.

The Market launched in July 2016 with five vendors. Alidoro is the only original tenant left. The other vendors are Sushi on Jones, Oaxaca Comida Calle and Dosa Royale.

Truth in listings: A co-op that needs some TLC

Most often the photos that accompany sales or rental listings feature carefully staged photos to make a positive first impression on potential buyers or renters.

That's not the case with this one-bedroom co-op on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. The Streeteasy listing notes that the place "Needs TLC."

Perhaps to prove that point, the only two photos with the listing offer an unvarnished view of the place — at least of a closet and top of the refrigerator...





The residence is listed at $425,000, with a note that it is in "need of a full renovation." And HDFC income restrictions apply here — one person $120,000; two people $137,000, per the listing.

Bubbleology Tea signs a lease on 1st Avenue

As previously noted, the London-based Bubbleology Tea chain was planning to open at 120 1/2 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

In its listing of recent real-estate transactions, the Times reported yesterday that the owners of this franchise signed a seven-year lease for the space, which previously housed the International Bar.

From the Times:

London-based bubble tea franchise has signed a seven-year lease for its flagship shop to open this summer in a 750-square-foot storefront, with a backyard patio, in this five-story East Village walk-up. The shop will feature milk- and fruit-based bubble tea blends including Oreo Crush, along with alcoholic brews including Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni.

The annual rent was listed at $105,000 — $8,750 per month.

The owners were seeking a full-liquor license for the address. However, CB3 denied their application last month, citing "insufficient public benefit ... for a business seeking to add tea-infused cocktails to its drink menu to sustain its business plan, in an area well-served with licensed businesses furnishing cocktails," per the minutes from that meeting.

It's not known at the moment if Bubbleology Tea is seeking a license directly from the State Liquor Authority for its Raspberry Mar-Tea-Ni and other boozy teas.

The latest iteration of the International Bar closed this past Thanksgiving. (Non-renewal of lease, via landlord Steve Croman.) The bar merged with its sister saloon, the Coal Yard, one block to the south between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More about Bubbleology Tea, possibly coming soon to 1st Avenue

Tuesday's parting shot

Photo on 10th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C via @lifeinthekey ...

Noted

EVG reader Mark White shared this photo... spotted early this morning on Second Street and Avenue B. Unfortunately, anything likely considered dope was already long gone...

Manhattanhenge is ON

Clear skies mean #Manhattanhenge is on for today (May 29)! 🌇Get ready for a spectacular sunset during Manhattanhenge, also known as the phenomenon when the sun aligns with the Manhattan grid! For the best viewing locations, visit on.nyc.gov/Manhattanhenge. If you’ll miss today’s sunset, Manhattanhenge is happening again on May 30, July 12, and July 13. (📷: Tudor City Overpass by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

A post shared by NYC Parks (@nycparks) on May 29, 2018 at 11:16am PDT

A playground dedication on 12th Street

The official opening of the new playground at the Children’s Workshop School/East Village Community School/P.S. 94 The Spectrum School took place this morning.

A rep at the Trust for Public Land, one of the organizations that helped fund the new playground, shared this before-and-after photo at the school on 12th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...


[Click on image for a better view]





Here's more from the media advisory on the opening... via the EVG inbox...

The new playground will bring 41,000 residents within a 10-minute walk of a park that includes a turf field, game tables, play equipment, running track, a stage, trees, and other green infrastructure elements.

This park is open to the entire community after school hours and on the weekends, and includes features that can be enjoyed by all ages, from children to seniors. This playground was made possible through funding provided from the Manhattan Borough President’s office, former New York City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, and supporters of The Trust for Public Land.

The opening of this playground is part of the Trust for Public Land’s Playgrounds Program, which serves to create vibrant, educational and fun playgrounds for New York City’s schoolchildren. All Trust for Public Land playgrounds include student participation in the design process, providing them with hands-on learning of the science, technology, engineering, architecture, and math that goes into physical aspects of designing playgrounds, and also the survey, consensus-building, and budgetary steps that go into the social aspects of deciding what will be included in their school’s playground.

Meanwhile, the official opening for the playground at P.S. 19 on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street is planned for June 18 at 11 a.m.



Previously on EV Grieve:
More details on the all-new playground coming to P.S. 19