2 East Village streetscenes this morning

St. Mark's Place...


[Shawn Chittle]

Avenue A...


[Dave on 7th]

What is happening with the Bowery Poetry Club?

[Monday outside the Bowery Poetry Club, where the sign has been removed]

We've heard a lot of speculation in recent weeks about the future of the Bowery Poetry Club. All sorts of rumors have been flying around, from an imminent closure to a months-long renovation.

Given the speculation, we decided to address a few of the rumors here.

In early May, the Club that Bob Holman founded in 2002 launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $50,000 for "a special dining experience that would include a bar, cafe/restaurant and a remodeled performance space," as BoweryBoogie noted.

However, three days later, someone cancelled the campaign.



We've heard that several promoters have taken their shows to other locations over issues with the Club. Meanwhile, there is little, if anything scheduled at the Club toward the latter stages of the summer. One producer with a monthly gig there has scheduled his show at another location for end of July.

One insider told EVG contributor Stacie Joy, "Bob told me there might be some be some changes, which is why there's little on the calendar for August. I'm hoping it's nothing major and trying not to worry."

According to another inside source: "Bob is insistent that this is a change and not the end. The plan is to close for renovations beginning in August. Of course it will have a different feel when they re-open but who knows? It might be even better than it is. At this time, no deal has been finalized, thus little information has been released."

We asked Holman for his take on the Club's future.

"Well, I'd hoped to be able to put rumors to rest by now — but really, there's no news till this New Idea becomes real! (or not!)," he said via email, adding, "Don't mean to be mysterious."

"But — rest assured — the Club is not closing!"

Building that houses Odessa Cafe and Bar for sale on Avenue A

Dave on 7th heard the rumor that the building that houses the Odessa Cafe and Bar at 117 Avenue A is for sale... sure enough, a sign has just arrived...



...this is the (old) cafe/diner space... the newer diner is next door at 119...



Unfortunately, we don't have much information about this listing. The HPNY site is under construction. An Odessa source tells EVG contributor Shawn Chittle that the owner lives in Arizona, and is asking in the $3 million neighborhood for the property. The landlord offered to sell the building to the Odessa proprietors, who own 119 Avenue A as well. They are passing on the sale for now.

The Odessa Cafe currently has three years left on its lease.


[Shawn Chittle]

Jane's Sweet Buns 'is currently under construction'

On Monday, we noted that Jane's Sweet Buns on St. Mark's Place has been closed of late... Meanwhile, Proletariat, the 10-seat bar that opened last month and has seemingly taken up most of the space for Buns, remains open...

On Tuesday, in the comments, EVG reader Bayou pointed out the arrival of an "under construction" sign on the front door... Anyway, a partial photo of that sign is above... No word on how long the construction will last...

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] There's now a (sort of) secret beer bar behind Jane's Sweet Buns

Bakery opening on St. Mark's Place

Has Jane's Sweet Buns closed?

Tree asks, Don't pee on me

Forget the location... East Fourth Street? Photo by Bobby Williams.

The tower of Brigid

Just a quickie follow-up from yesterday's post ... now, workers have removed all the scaffolding from the tower on the East Eighth Street side of St. Brigid's at Avenue B...





...and the view of it from Tompkins Square Park...

EVG respost: The best outdoor spot for free air conditioning in the East Village

As I exclusively reported, it is warm out. So! Perhaps it's a good time to repost this, uh, post from July 23, 2011... May come in handy...

It's right here on Sixth Street and Hall Place Taras Shevchenko Place... there are several spots here outside the new Cooper Union building that provide a welcome blast of cool air... right where this fellow is lounging/passed out.

From the Boardwalk at Atlantic City... on East 12th Street

Let's check in again at the "Boardwalk Empire" filming action on East 12th Street this afternoon... for an episode from the upcoming third season of the show about prohibition and gambling and stuff in Atlantic City...









Photos by Bobby Williams.

Report: Arrest made in East Fifth Street stabbing death

Police have arrested Carl Knox, the career criminal accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend's nephew during a fight on East Fifth Street on June 9, the Post reports. Capers reportedly was trying to break up a fight between his aunt and Knox.

According to the Post, the NYPD arrested Knox at 1 a.m. Sunday.
The Daily News reported that Knox has been in and out of state prison since 1986. "His rap sheet lists more than 25 arrests, including for such serious charges as rape, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, police said."

The New York Times had more on the incident in an article published on June 15. Capers had a 6-year-old son and was engaged to be married.

An antiques roadshow on East 12th Street

@jessnepom shares this photo of the old-timey cars lined up along East 12th Street this morning for the "Boardwalk Empire" shoot...

Meanwhile, Off the Grid stopped by the set yesterday on East 12th Street for a few photos...

Previously.

Looking for a few good landlords

A newer EVG reader writes:

I'm looking for a studio in the neighborhood, and don't want to make any mistakes with slumlords or anything like that...I've been through that already.

Are you familiar with some of the better, or more reputable, rental agencies/realtors in the East Village? Any words of wisdom on real estate agencies/realtors in the East Village with above-average reputations?

Hmm. Good question. It seems as if people know about some of more, uh, vilified landlords or real-estate companies... Anyone want to share any positive experiences with any particular landlord(s)? Maybe one on a quiet block!

[Corny image via Getty]

East Fifth Street residents discover they are now part of the 9300 Realty family

Speaking of well-known landlords... a resident passes along this information... notices that arrived late last week at 325 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...


[Click image to enlarge]

The notice posted in the building mentions there's a "new managing agent" for the building... the letter to individual residents in the building states that there is a new owner ... and the "lease and security deposit" have been assigned to "the new owner."

In both cases, the new landlord is 9300 Realty (owned by the notorious Croman Realty). The Village Voice put Steve Croman on their 10 Worst Landlords List a few years back, and the paper outlined his usual tactics: "badgering phone calls, endless lawsuits, and leaning on already hard-pressed tenants."

This article on tenant-landlord issues from the Times a few years ago specially addresses a tenant trying to get a security deposit back from Croman Realty.

In any event, we'll see what transpires here...